midnight
But now he saw it all very clearly . He had taken only money , which he would be able to restore ; she had given a part of herself , irrevocably . So deeply absorbed was he in his thoughts that the clocks struck many successive quarters without rousing him from his reverie , or suggesting again to him the fixed idea by which his life was governed on that day of the week . But as midnight drew near , the prolonged striking of the bells at every quarter at last attracted his attention . He started suddenly and rose from his seat , trying to count the strokes , but he had not heard the first ones and was astray in his reckoning . It was very late , that was certain , and not many minutes could elapse before the door would open and his friends would enter . He hastily smoothed his hair , looked to the flame of his bright little lamp and made a trip of inspection round the room .