midnight
`` I 'm afraid I 've interrupted your slumbers . This is rather a late hour at which to arrive . '' `` No matter , sir . Sure and I sat up expecting you , Mr. Steele , until after midnight , and had only just turned in when -- '' `` What -- ? '' The new-comer , now fairly within the garden , could not suppress a start of surprise , which however the other , engaged in relocking the gate , did not appear to notice . `` Expecting -- ? '' `` Although I 'd given up thinking you 'd be here to-night , '' the latter went on .