about midnight
She swept by him without a sign , laughing that same laugh at some sally of her escort , and they got into the black automobile together and were whirled away and out of sight by the impassive bundle of furs that manipulated the wheel . For the rest of that afternoon and the whole of that night no man , woman , or child heard the voice of Alonzo Rawson , for he spoke to none . He came not to the evening meal , nor was he seen by any who had his acquaintance . He entered his room at about midnight , and Trumbull was awakened by his neighbour 's overturning a chair . No match was struck , however , and Trumbull was relieved to think that the Senator from Stackpole intended going directly to bed without troubling to light the gas , and that his prayers would soon be over . Such was not the case , for no other sound came from the room , nor were Alonzo 's prayers uttered that night , though the unhappy statesman in the next apartment could not get to sleep for several hours on account of his nervous expectancy of them . After this , as the day approached upon which hung the fate of the bill which Mr. Josephus Battle was fighting , Mrs. Protheroe came to the Senate Chamber nearly every morning and afternoon .