midnight
Shall I give you his name ? '' `` The Lord Justice-Clerk , Lord Hermiston , '' said Archie , almost with gaiety ; and the pair drank the toast deeply . It was not precisely easy to re-establish , after these emotional passages , the natural flow of conversation . But the Judge eked out what was wanting with kind looks , produced his snuff-box -LRB- which was very rarely seen -RRB- to fill in a pause , and at last , despairing of any further social success , was upon the point of getting down a book to read a favourite passage , when there came a rather startling summons at the front door , and Carstairs ushered in my Lord Glenkindie , hot from a midnight supper . I am not aware that Glenkindie was ever a beautiful object , being short , and gross-bodied , and with an expression of sensuality comparable to a bear 's . At that moment , coming in hissing from many potations , with a flushed countenance and blurred eyes , he was strikingly contrasted with the tall , pale , kingly figure of Glenalmond . A rush of confused thought came over Archie -- of shame that this was one of his father 's elect friends ; of pride , that at the least of it Hermiston could carry his liquor ; and last of all , of rage , that he should have here under his eyes the man that had betrayed him .