midnight
`` Mr. Morris is the person of the house . '' `` It is not a common way of collecting guests , '' said Brackenbury : `` but an eccentric man might very well indulge the whim without any intention to offend . And suppose that I refuse Mr. Morris 's invitation , '' he went on , `` what then ? '' `` My orders are to drive you back where I took you from , '' replied the man , `` and set out to look for others up to midnight . Those who have no fancy for such an adventure , Mr. Morris said , were not the guests for him . '' These words decided the Lieutenant on the spot . `` After all , '' he reflected , as he descended from the hansom , `` I have not had long to wait for my adventure . ''