midnight
By the way , I 'm off in my story -- Wacker did leave here , about eleven o'clock . '' `` Alone ? '' `` Yes . He was gone half an hour , came back looking wise and excited , joined his cronies again , and at midnight was helpless . My man and I carried him upstairs to bed . '' `` What became of the two men ? '' `` They sat watching the clock till closing time , one o'clock , went out , unhitched the horse , and drove off . ''