midnight
One was the Earl of Rochester ; the other , his dark-eyed , handsome page -- that strange page with the face of the lost lady ! The earl was chatting familiarly , and laughing obstreperously at something or other , while the boy merely wore a languid smile , as if anything further in that line were quite beneath his dignity . `` Silence and solitude , '' said the earl , with a careless glance around , `` I protest , Hubert , this night seems endless . How long is it till midnight ? '' `` An hour and a half at least , I should fancy , '' answered the boy , with a strong foreign accent . `` I know it struck ten as we passed St. Paul 's . '' `` This grand bonfire of our most worshipful Lord Mayor will be a sight worth seeing , '' remarked the earl .