midnight
`` I 've told her nothing but the truth , '' says Nevil . `` Telling the truth to women is an impertinence , '' says my lord . Nevil swore he 'd have a revolution in the country before he apologized . ' Mr. Culbrett smiled at the absurdity of the change of positions between Beauchamp and his uncle Everard , which reminded him somewhat of the old story of the highwayman innkeeper and the market farmer who had been thoughtful enough to recharge his pistols after quitting the inn at midnight . A practical ` tu quoque ' is astonishingly laughable , and backed by a high figure and manner it had the flavour of triumphant repartee . Lord Avonley did not speak of it as a retort upon Nevil , though he reiterated the word Apology amusingly . He put it as due to the lady governing his household ; and his ultimatum was , that the Apology should be delivered in terms to satisfy him within three months of the date of the demand for it : otherwise blank ; but the shadowy index pointed to the destitution of Nevil Beauchamp .