midnight
He could not help wishing that he might stay with them permanently , but he knew that this could not be . To remain in the same city with the padrone was out of the question . Meanwhile we return to the house which Phil had forsaken , and inquire what effect was produced by his non-appearance . It was the rule of the establishment that all the boys should be back by midnight . Phil had generally returned an hour before that time . When , therefore , it was near midnight , the padrone looked uneasily at the clock . `` Have you seen Filippo ? ''