nearly midnight
Suddenly he was conscious that his silence had evoked a subtle uneasiness in Storch . At this moment he laughed heartily himself as he rose from his seat , slapping Storch violently on the back as he cried : `` Upon my word , Storch , you 're a master hand ! No matter what happens now , at least I 'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I was perfectly stage-managed . '' They kept close to the house until nearly midnight . At a few moments to twelve Storch drew a flask of smuggled brandy from his hip pocket . `` Here , take a good drink ! '' he said , passing the bottle to Fred .