about midnight
There 's no ` arm : he 's only had a little too much . I 'll go up an ' make him go to bed as soon as I 've got my ` ands clean . ' ` The necessity for waiting till then is n't obvious , ' remarked the realist with a chuckle , and went his way . He walked at a sharp pace for more than an hour , and about midnight drew near to his own quarter again . He had just turned up by the Middlesex Hospital , and was at no great distance from Clipstone Street , when a yell and scamper caught his attention ; a group of loafing blackguards on the opposite side of the way had suddenly broken up , and as they rushed off he heard the word ` Fire ! ' This was too common an occurrence to disturb his equanimity ; he wondered absently in which street the fire might be , but trudged on without a thought of making investigation . Repeated yells and rushes , however , assailed his apathy .