midnight
The chaise wheels began to move on the cobbles . `` His Lordship himself will see you , sir . Of that I make no doubt , '' twittered the night-porter , fumbling with the bolt . `` There was a terrible disturbance , back in July , when Captain Bettesworth arrived -- not so late as this , to be sure , but towards midnight -- and they waited till morning , to carry up the dispatches with his Lordship 's chocolate . Thankful was I next day not to have been on duty at the time ... . If you will follow me , sir -- '' Lieutenant Lapenotiere had turned instinctively towards a door on the right . It admitted to the Waiting Room , and there were few officers in the service who did not know -- and only too well -- that Chamber of Hope Deferred .