one o'clock
The door was shut close to prevent the light being seen in the hall outside , which might frighten away the ghost . And now the two gentlemen sat comfortably back in the arm-chairs and began talking of all sorts of things , now and then pausing to take a good draught of wine , and so twelve o'clock struck before they were aware . `` The ghost has got scent of us and is keeping away to-night , '' said the doctor . `` Wait a bit , it does not generally appear before one o'clock , '' answered his friend . They started talking again . One o'clock struck . There was not a sound about the house , nor in the street outside .