midnight
He could not forget it . Why had his watch stopped ? A chilling thought as to whether predestination did not govern the world , allayed all tumult in his mind . He dressed carefully , and soon heard a great City bell , with horrid gulfs between the strokes , tell him that the hour was eleven toward midnight . `` Not late , '' he said . `` Who 'd have thought it ? '' cried a voice on the landing of the stairs , as he went forth .