midnight
And before Harry could reply , General Feversham 's voice broke sharply in from the head of the table : -- `` Harry , look at the clock ! '' At once all eyes were turned upon the lad . The hands of the clock made the acutest of angles . It was close upon midnight ; and from eight , without so much as a word or a question , he had sat at the dinner-table listening . Yet even now he rose with reluctance . `` Must I go , father ? '' he asked , and the general 's guests intervened in a chorus .