noon
But he was no match for Rothesay 's cunning , and readily swallowed his enemy 's smiling professions of regard and good wishes for his married happiness . They drank together again and again , and , at eleven o'clock that night , just as the theatres were coming out , Rothesay suddenly left him , and Proctor found himself staggering across the street . A policeman took him to his hotel , where Proctor sank into a heavy , deadly stupor . He awoke at noon . Two letters were lying on his table . One , from the owners of his barque , asked him to call on them at ten o'clock that morning , the other was from Nell Levison . The latter was short but plain : `` I shall never marry a drunkard .