midnight
was coming from the House for a ten minutes ' talk , as usual , on his way home , to refresh him after the long sitting and bear-baiting he had nightly to endure . Now let me confess : I grew frightened ; Mr. Warwick was `` off his head , '' as they say-crazy , and I could not bear the thought of those two meeting . While he raged I threw open the window and put the lamp near it , to expose the whole interior -- cunning as a veteran intriguer : horrible , but it had to be done to keep them apart . He asked me what madness possessed me , to sit by an open window at midnight , in view of the public , with a damp wind blowing . I complained of want of air and fanned my forehead . I heard the steps on the pavement ; I stung him to retort loudly , and I was relieved ; the steps passed on . So the trick succeeded -- the trick !