midnight
Come along , Lady Barbara . '' He advanced a step , but she only smiled at him without moving . Eric looked angrily round , but the stream of passers-by , though sluggish , shewed no signs of drying up . A clock inside the hall began to chime midnight , and he turned on his heel . As he did so , a taxi turned into the street , and an officer climbed gingerly out and hoisted himself across the pavement on two crutches . Barbara coughed and drew her shawl round her until half her face was hidden . `` But , Eric dear , you ca n't have _ lost _ the key , '' she expostulated , purposefully clear .