midnight
Journalists with influence enough to plunge the whole of Europe into war ! In one short hour Edward Henry 's right hand -LRB- peeping out from that superb fur coat which he had had the wit to buy -RRB- had made the acquaintance of scores upon scores of the most celebrated right hands in Britain . He had the sensation that in future , whenever he walked about the best streets of the West End , he would be continually compelled to stop and chat with august and renowned acquaintances , and that he would always be taking off his hat to fine ladies who flashed by nodding from powerful motor-cars . Indeed , Edward Henry was surprised at the number of famous people who seemed to have nothing to do but attend advertising rituals at midnight or thereabouts . Sir John Pilgrim had , as Marrier predicted , attended to the advertisements . But Edward Henry had helped . And on the day itself the evening newspapers had taken the bit between their teeth and run off with the affair at a great pace .