midnight before
Long after his visitor had left him , Mr. Lyle sat at his window in an attitude of deep thought . The unexpected meeting with Victor Hartman had deprived him of all power or wish to sleep . He sat at the window watching the crowd that thronged the village streets with his outward eyes , but reviewing all the past with his inner vision . It was long after midnight before he retired . The next morning revealed the full measure of the crowd that filled the little country town to overflowing . And the road leading from the village westward to the University was crowded with foot-passengers , horsemen and carriages of every description . Those who had no reserved seats set out early , to secure the most eligible of the unreserved places .