midnight
Graydon sat with his chin in his hands , dull , stricken , crushed . He had heard the story of his father 's baseness from Frances Cable , and he had been told the true story of Jane ; from Rigby he learned of the vile transactions in which his father had dealt . At first , he could scarcely believe his own ears , but in the end lie saw that but -- half the truth could be told . It was past midnight when he left David Cable 's , not to go to his own home , but to that of Elias Droom . He knew now that the newspapers would devote columns to the `` sensation in high life '' ; he knew that Jane would suffer agonies untold , but he would not blame his father for that ; he knew that arrest and disgrace hung over the tall grey man who had shown his true and amazing side at last ; he knew that shame and humiliation were to be his own share in the division . Down somewhere in his aching heart he nourished the hope that Elias Droom could ease the pain of these wretched disclosures . As he traversed the dark streets across town he was vaguely wondering whether Jane 's eyes would ever lose the pained , hopeless expression he had last seen in them .