midnight
`` Altogether , '' was Richard 's reply . The old man spoke no more , but sat in a cloud of smoke and thought for the rest of the evening . Even when `` Sol '' rose up to go -- Harry having retired long since , for they kept very early hours at the Gethin Castle -- the landlord did not , as usual , accompany him , but mixed himself another glass of his favorite liquor . As for Richard , it was not his custom to seek his bed until after midnight ; so Trevethick and he were left to one another 's company . It was an opportunity to which the latter had been looking forward for many a day , but which he had never desired so keenly as at that moment . `` Are you likely to be at Crompton soon again ? '' inquired the landlord , pursuing the subject of the evening 's talk .