about midnight
After a long parley , he allowed me six hours , when I promised to give him an answer . My mind , however , was made up -- as soon as he was gone , I threw myself on the sofa and fell asleep . * * * At the end of the six hours the Vizier came back : two people were with him ; one , by his martial appearance , I knew to be Holkar , the other I did not recognise . It was about midnight . `` Have you considered ? '' said the Vizier , as he came to my couch . `` I have , '' said I , sitting up , -- I could not stand , for my legs were tied , and my arms fixed in a neat pair of steel handcuffs .