nearly twelve o'clock
He left his dinner untouched , and went into his consulting-room ; and , as he waited for the usual influx of patients , strove to understand , to think . People came in , and he attended to them and watched them go ; they told him , some of them , that he looked out of sorts and pale , and he laughed , saying that he was all right . The evening wore away , it grew late , every one in the house had retired but himself . It was nearly twelve o'clock ; and he was still sitting , with his head in his hands , trying to solve the problem that perplexed him . Suddenly he started up , and listened . There were footsteps outside -- rapid , cautious -- a key was placed in the lock , and the door yielded . He darted out into the hall , and grasped the arm of the stealthily-entering figure .