twelve o'clock
before
The housemaid turned suddenly into a lean creature ; and he awoke with a sore feeling in his heart . His eye fell on his wet boots . The whole thing was scaring , and jumping up , he began to throw his clothes into his trunks . It was twelve o'clock before he went down , and found his brother and Traquair still at the table arranging an itinerary ; he surprised them by saying that he too was coming ; and without further explanation set to work to eat . James had heard that there were salt-mines in the neighbourhood -- his proposal was to start , and halt an hour or so on the road for their inspection ; he said : `` Everybody 'll ask you if you 've seen the salt-mines : I should n't like to say I had n't seen the salt-mines . What 's the good , they 'd say , of your going there if you have n't seen the salt-mines ? '' He wondered , too , if they need fee the second waiter -- an idle chap !