midnight
The scene she has with Tito before Nello 's shop is ludicrously impossible -- as is their English-like return home together , without retinue or lights , just like a man and wife of to-day when she has been to fetch him from the public-house , or , if she be of the better class , from his club . English , too , is Romola 's sitting up for her husband in her queer womanless establishment , and opening the door to him when he comes home late at night . For the matter of that , indeed , Tito 's solitary rambles are as much out of line with the time , and the circumstances of that time , as is Romola 's strange daring . No man of any note whatever appeared alone in the streets when out on a midnight expedition , either to commit murder or break the seventh commandment . He took some one with him , friend or servant , armed ; and to this day you will not find Italians willingly walk alone at night . The whole of this kind of life , if necessary for the story , is dead against truth and probability . So is Romola 's flight , disguised as a nun .