ten o’clock
at night
Still , though he loved and languished after the most orthodox models , and was only deterred from making a confidante of Kate by the slight considerations of having never , in all his life , spoken to the object of his passion , and having never set eyes upon her , except on two occasions , on both of which she had come and gone like a flash of lightning -- or , as Nicholas himself said , in the numerous conversations he held with himself , like a vision of youth and beauty much too bright to last -- his ardour and devotion remained without its reward . The young lady appeared no more ; so there was a great deal of love wasted -LRB- enough indeed to have set up half-a-dozen young gentlemen , as times go , with the utmost decency -RRB- , and nobody was a bit the wiser for it ; not even Nicholas himself , who , on the contrary , became more dull , sentimental , and lackadaisical , every day . While matters were in this state , the failure of a correspondent of the brothers Cheeryble , in Germany , imposed upon Tim Linkinwater and Nicholas the necessity of going through some very long and complicated accounts , extending over a considerable space of time . To get through them with the greater dispatch , Tim Linkinwater proposed that they should remain at the counting-house , for a week or so , until ten o'clock at night ; to this , as nothing damped the zeal of Nicholas in the service of his kind patrons -- not even romance , which has seldom business habits -- he cheerfully assented . On the very first night of these later hours , at nine exactly , there came : not the young lady herself , but her servant , who , being closeted with brother Charles for some time , went away , and returned next night at the same hour , and on the next , and on the next again . These repeated visits inflamed the curiosity of Nicholas to the very highest pitch . Tantalised and excited , beyond all bearing , and unable to fathom the mystery without neglecting his duty , he confided the whole secret to Newman Noggs , imploring him to be on the watch next night ; to follow the girl home ; to set on foot such inquiries relative to the name , condition , and history of her mistress , as he could , without exciting suspicion ; and to report the result to him with the least possible delay .