nearly midnight
An hour or so after , Doctor Matthai came in . Both of us were armed , and I thought it singular that the doctor , who appeared to treat the whole affair as a joke , should have taken that precaution . We sat by the open fire in my dining-room , smoking ; the doctor lingering somewhat mournfully upon the departed greatness of A -- which , it seems , had once been a town of considerable social and commercial importance . With reminiscence and ancedote the hours sped by , and it was nearly midnight when we retired . `` The doctor , sharing my bed , asked me to arouse him if I heard anything during the night . I slept fairly well until the clock on the mantel struck two , when I awoke with a start . Complete silence reigned , and I rolled over again for another nap .