twelve o'clock
I drink to you ! '' And Hilary held up her teacup , bowing and smiling , and looking so bright and pretty that it was a pleasure to see her . Well , it was a happy hour , and the memory of it remained all the more vividly because of the contrast which it afforded to the dark days which followed . At twelve o'clock the same evening , Mr Bertrand took up his candle and went the usual tour of inspection through the house . He peered into the drawing-room , fragrant with plants and cut blossoms , into the dining-room , where the village carpenters were already putting up the horse-shoe table ; into the pantry , where the more valuable presents were locked away in the great iron safe . All was quiet and secure . He returned to his study , and was just settling down for a quiet read , when the sound of footsteps smote on his ear .