midnight
His nerves were shattered by struggle , love and fear , and sought relief in ghastly merriment . Somehow the whole scene reminded him of one in a comic opera . There was a ludicrous side to it . Supposing that the political opponents , who already hated him so bitterly , could have seen him slinking from door to door at midnight with an unconscious lady in his arms -- what would they have said ? He ceased laughing ; the fit passed -- indeed it was no laughing matter . Then he thought of the first night of their strange communion , that night before he had returned to London . The seed sown in that hour had blossomed and borne fruit indeed .