midnight
For the last three months he had been working at insane pressure . At seven he rose ; at a quarter to eight he breakfasted ; at half past he betook himself to his ascetic workroom and remained there till half-past one . At four o'clock he began a three-hour spell of work . At night a four hours ' spell -- from nine to one , if they had no evening engagement , from midnight to four o'clock in the morning if they had been out . `` But , my darling child ! '' cried Barbara , aghast when she heard of this maniacal time-table , `` you must put your foot down . You must n't let him do it .