twelve
o'clock
She had been failing fast under her painful vigils , and I knew that a few hours of refreshing sleep would be worth to her more than all the drugs in the Pharmacopoeia . Now came the test which was to make this slumber worth nothing or every thing to me . If she could be awakened from it without my coincidence , it would prove , perhaps , only a snare to my feet , but if her waking depended on my will , then might I indeed hope to baffle my Dragon , and , as far as she was concerned , make sure of my escape . I willed then earnestly that she should sleep until twelve o'clock ; and at ten , when Dinah became impatient to retire , I gave her permission , in order to gain egress to try and arouse Mrs. Clayton . In consequence of this immurement of our servant , I had remained supperless -- beyond the crusts of bread left by Ernie and some cold tea in Mrs. Clayton 's teapot , of which I partook with an appetite born of exhaustion . Those who have undertaken this `` laying on of hands , '' for the purpose of soothing pain , will comprehend what the succeeding sensation of nerveless prostration is -- those only -- and give me their sympathy . From her errand to arouse our sleeper in quest of the key , of course Dinah returned disconsolate .