midnight
Nora withdrew her hand from his arm . `` Pardon me , '' said he contritely . `` I have no right to ask you such questions . '' It was not long after midnight when the motor-boat returned to its abiding place . On the way over conversation lagged , and finally died altogether . Mrs. Harrigan fell asleep against Celeste 's shoulder , and the musician never deviated her gaze from the silver ripples which flowed out diagonally and magically from the prow of the boat . Nora watched the stars slowly ascend over the eastern range of mountains ; and across the fire of his innumerable cigarettes the Barone watched her .