midnight
He snapped off the light as if the sight pained him , and strode into his study . For a time he stood moodily gazing at his flowers and ferns . How every leaf there was pregnant with association . There was the Moorish clock droning the midnight hour . When Steel had brought that clock -- `` Ting , ting , ting . Pring , pring , ping , pring . Ting , ting , ting , ting . ''