midnight
`` I declare to God I do n't care what way it goes ! '' Larry had said many times , but most often when fatigue and discouragement had together taken control . Such times had come more often during the last week Before the election , and they reached their climax on the evening of the polling day . The two young men , mentally and physically demoralised by fatigue , had at length , at an hour considerably past midnight , escaped from their colleagues , and , having gained the sanctuary of Barty 's office , were drearily reviewing the position by the light of a smoky lamp and over the ashes of a dead fire ; counting possible votes , making unconvincing calculations based on supposition , wading hand-in-hand ever deeper into the Slough of Despond . `` I was talking to your father this evening , '' said Larry , lighting a cigarette and letting himself fall into an ancient rocking-chair . `` He would n't give me an opinion one way or the other , but it 's my belief he thinks it 's a bad chance . '' `` I believe he 's done his best for you , '' said Barty , dubiously ; `` but the way he 's situated , he does n't like to come out too strong one way or the other . ''