twelve in the morning
`` Tell Ellis to go to Halifax , '' commanded Montgomery , and again Ellis took the elevator downward . His usually impassive face now wore a look of anxiety , and twice he started to return to the top floor , shaking his head dubiously . At last he climbed into a hansom and reluctantly left the revelers behind . He knew it was a birthday celebration , and it was only half-past twelve in the morning . At three o'clock the elevator made another trip to the top floor and Ellis rushed over to the unfriendly doorbell . This time there was stubborn determination in his face . The singing ceased and a roar of laughter followed the hush of a moment or two .