midnight
And he had thought Mr. Softly Bishop so wily ! A fearful thought suddenly entered his mind : supposing the failure of the church-clock 's striking powers should be only temporary ; supposing it should recover under some verger 's treatment , and strike twelve ! `` Let 's go into the conservatory and look at the Square , '' said he . `` I always look at the Square at midnight , and it 's nearly twelve now . '' `` You 're the most peculiar man I ever met , '' said Eliza Fiddle , eyeing him uneasily . `` Very true , '' Mr. Prohack agreed . `` I 'm half afraid of you . ''