midnight
Now such being the enamoured lady 's constant practice , it so befell that the dishonoured husband took note that , while she egged him on to drink , she herself drank never a drop ; whereby he came to suspect the truth , to wit , that the lady was making him drunk , that afterwards she might take her pleasure while he slept . And being minded to put his surmise to the proof , one evening , having drunken nought all day , he mimicked never so drunken a sot both in speech and in carriage . The lady , deeming him to be really as he appeared , and that 't was needless to ply him with liquor , presently put him to bed . Which done , she , as she at times was wont , hied her forth to her lover 's house , where she tarried until midnight . Tofano no sooner perceived that his wife was gone , than up he got , hied him to the door , locked it , and then posted himself at the window to observe her return , and let her know that he was ware of her misconduct . So there he stood until the lady returned , and finding herself locked out , was annoyed beyond measure , and sought to force the door open . Tofano let her try her strength upon it a while , and then : -- `` Madam , '' quoth he , '' 't is all to no purpose : thou canst not get in .