midnight
It must be a farce ! After which they grew serious and gazed with an embarrassed expression at her bedroom door . They shook their heads ; it was no laughing matter . Till midnight a dozen gentlemen had stood talking in low voices in front of the fireplace . All were friends ; all were deeply exercised by the same idea of paternity . They seemed to be mutually excusing themselves , and they looked as confused as if they had done something clumsy . Eventually , however , they put a bold face on the matter .