twelve o'clock
`` Loose you ; and if you 're half a man you 'll help me tie up these brutes . Come on -- watch them there , Julius . Why , you 're blindfolded , too , and how frightfully tight you 're corded ! '' `` I 've been like that since twelve o'clock . '' A few moments sufficed to unfasten the captive 's arms and clear his eyes . `` Now you , '' said Jeffreys , indicating the topmost of Julius 's captives with his toe , `` put your hands behind your back ! '' The fellow obeyed hurriedly ; he had had quite enough of Julius 's attentions already to need more .