nearly one in the morning
Were they , perhaps , directions as to the line to be taken to discover it ? Harold could not imagine , nor , as a matter of fact , did he or anybody else ever find out either then or thereafter . Ida , indeed , used afterwards to laughingly declare that old Sir James meant to indicate that he considered the whole thing as plain as A.B.C. , but this was an explanation which did not commend itself to Harold 's practical mind . Harold glanced at the clock ; it was nearly one in the morning , time to go to bed if he was going . But he did not feel inclined to go to bed . If he did , with this great discovery on his mind he should not sleep . There was another thing ; it was Christmas Eve , or rather Christmas Day , the day of Ida 's answer .