midnight
`` In what part of the town did you meet ? '' `` It was near the part they call Howden Clough . '' `` And at what hour did you return ? '' `` Oh , it must have been after midnight . You see , '' went on the Scotsman imperturbably , `` I asked her to come and see me , and I fixed a late hour because I thought -- weel ; she might be a little more leeberal late at night than in the middle of the day . I have made a profound study of women , and I was in want of money at the time , and I thought I could make a better bargain with her . That 's why I fixed a late hour for meeting .