midnight
`` What , already ? '' said the Duke , in a tone of the liveliest surprise . `` No , no ; it 's still in the safe , '' said the millionaire . `` But it 's as good as lost -- before midnight it will be lost . That fiend will get it . '' `` If it 's in this safe now , it wo n't be lost before midnight , '' said the Duke . `` But are you sure it 's there now ? ''