midnight
`` Where is the operator ? '' `` At home , I reckon , if he ai n't , that 's where he oughter be this time in the morning . '' `` Do you know when he will be here ? '' '' ` Bout midnight , if he counts on lookin ' out for the express . '' `` Can you tell me what time it is now ? '' It was rather a difficult matter for the tipsy party to get at his watch ; but he was in an obliging mood , and after some trouble succeeded in clutching the timepiece . `` Come here an ' see for yourself , '' he said , after trying in vain to make out the position of the hands .