midnight
Everywhere the boldest eyes regarded him ; he saw smiles of scorn , snarling visages , as , with reclining head and lowered lids , his eyes rested on the House : a hard gaze . Unfortunately , his pallor was perfectly obvious , and its significance , the stab being unknown , was misunderstood . And up rose a young lord , who stammered unprofundities just below the region of lawn-sleeves to the right ; and another with slow step , as if to music , came up the gangway , and spoke at the table ; and another after him : and it needed sustained effort to understand what they said ; the brain , as it were , would not close upon statement after statement so insignificant . But Hogarth would have endured till midnight , or longer , but for a growing doubt within him : `` Am I bleeding ? Shall I not certainly faint ? '' And there was this other question : `` To what greater daring of insolence will these impossible speeches rise ? '' Suddenly , at five minutes to ten , in the very midst of a duke 's speech , the Regent , with dizzy brain , was on his feet : there was a few moments ' gasp and breathlessness ; and then -- all at once -- it was as though a wind from hell swept through that House , whirling in its vehemence Regent , lords , Gallery , Black Rod , Clerk , Usher , and all ; and every face was marble , and every eye a blaze .