half past twelve
Some men have a knack of keeping appointments ; and other men have a knack of missing them . I am one of the other men . Add to this , that I passed the evening at Portland Place , on the same seat with Rachel , in a room forty feet long , with Mrs. Merridew at the further end of it . Does anybody wonder that I got home at half past twelve instead of half past ten ? How thoroughly heartless that person must be ! And how earnestly I hope I may never make that person 's acquaintance ! My servant handed me a morsel of paper when he let me in .