midnight
` The hand was far from bodiless , madam , for it belonged to me . But why are you here ? It must be near midnight . ' ` It _ is _ midnight , ' answered the woman ; ` I came here because I heard my husband call me three times distinctly , `` Sophia , Sophia , Sophia ! '' just like that . ' ` Nonsense , madam , ' I said , with an asperity I seldom use where the fair sex is concerned ; but I began to see that this hysterical creature was going to be in the way during a research that called for coolness and calmness . I was sorry I had invited her to come .