midnight
A Mr. Jeeves , who was one of the principal solicitors in the town , stated that he had acted as Sir Philip 's legal agent and adviser ever since Sir Philip came of age , and was charged with the exclusive management of some valuable house-property which the deceased had possessed in L -- ; that when Sir Philip had arrived in the town late in the afternoon of the previous day , he had sent for Mr. Jeeves ; informed him that he , Sir Philip , was engaged to be married ; that he wished to have full and minute information as to the details of his house property -LRB- which had greatly increased in value since his absence from England -RRB- , in connection with the settlements his marriage would render necessary ; and that this information was also required by him in respect to a codicil he desired to add to his will . He had , accordingly , requested Mr. Jeeves to have all the books and statements concerning the property ready for his inspection that night , when he would call , after leaving the ball which he had promised the mayor , whom he had accidentally met on entering the town , to attend . Sir Philip had also asked Mr. Jeeves to detain one of his clerks in his office , in order to serve , conjointly with Mr. Jeeves , as a witness to the codicil he desired to add to his will . Sir Philip had accordingly come to Mr. Jeeves 's house a little before midnight ; had gone carefully through all the statements prepared for him , and had executed the fresh codicil to his testament , which testament he had in their previous interview given to Mr. Jeeves 's care , sealed up . Mr. Jeeves stated that Sir Philip , though a man of remarkable talents and great acquirements , was extremely eccentric , and of a very peremptory temper , and that the importance attached to a promptitude for which there seemed no pressing occasion did not surprise him in Sir Philip as it might have done in an ordinary client . Sir Philip said , indeed , that he should devote the next morning to the draft for his wedding settlements , according to the information of his property which he had acquired ; and after a visit of very brief duration to Derval Court , should quit the neighbourhood and return to Paris , where his intended bride then was , and in which city it had been settled that the marriage ceremony should take place . Mr. Jeeves had , however , observed to him , that if he were so soon to be married , it was better to postpone any revision of testamentary bequests , since after marriage he would have to make a new will altogether .