midnight
`` What 's that , sir ? '' he asked . Major Parker jabbed his pipe stem at the copper disc . `` That , '' he said , `` is the only identification I can produce until Colonel Welsh arrives at midnight . That is n't far off , of course , but you two ran into some trouble tonight . Bad trouble , I 'd say , and -- Well , I 'm supposed to be in charge down here , which automatically makes me responsible for your safety . I fell down on the job , it seems .