midnight
This seemed to strike Mr. Elkins as the best practical joke he had ever heard of ; and Cornish suggested that for a man to stop in Homeric laughter on Broadway might be pleasant for him , but was embarrassing to his companions . By this time Cornish himself was better-natured . Jim took charge of our movements , and commanded us to a dinner with him , in the nature of a celebration , with a theater-party afterward . `` Let us , '' said he , `` hear the chimes at midnight , or even after , if we get buncoed doing it . Who cares if we wind up in the police court ! We 've done the deed ; we 've made our bluff good with Halliday and his gang of highwaymen ; and I feel like taking the limit off , if it lifts the roof ! Al , hold your hand over my mouth or I shall yell ! ''