midnight
`` Not in America , Sir ; not in America . '' And exchanging such observations , increasing in bitterness as they went , they walked on through the streets farther and farther from their homes , until they reached a part of the city whence they had to go a long way round to get back . Frycollin followed , by no means at ease to see his master plunging into such deserted spots . He did not like deserted spots , particularly after midnight . In fact the darkness was profound , and the moon was only a thin crescent just beginning its monthly life . Frycollin kept a lookout to the left and right of him to see if he was followed . And he fancied he could see five or six hulking follows dogging his footsteps .