twelve o'clock
Alice , as she was driven in solitary grandeur to the railway station , could not but wish that she had never gone there . Burgo Fitzgerald . On the night before Christmas Eve two men were sitting together in George Vavasor 's rooms in Cecil Street . It was past twelve o'clock , and they were both smoking ; there were square bottles on the table containing spirits , with hot water and cold water in jugs , and one of the two men was using , and had been using , these materials for enjoyment . Vavasor had not been drinking , nor did it appear as though he intended to begin . There was a little weak brandy and water in a glass by his side , but there it had remained untouched for the last twenty minutes . His companion , however , had twice in that time replenished his beaker , and was now puffing out the smoke of his pipe with the fury of a steamer 's funnel when she has not yet burned the black off her last instalment of fresh coals .