Twelve o’clock
If his messenger could go to one place , why could he not go to another ? And even granting some impediment , why was this gentleman to be received by me in secret ? The more I reflected the more convinced I grew that I was dealing with a case of cerebral disease ; and though I dismissed my servants to bed , I loaded an old revolver , that I might be found in some posture of self-defence . Twelve o'clock had scarce rung out over London , ere the knocker sounded very gently on the door . I went myself at the summons , and found a small man crouching against the pillars of the portico . `` Are you come from Dr. Jekyll ? '' I asked .