midnight
`` Will you allow me to get him ? I can not seem to perfect this last stage . '' `` No time , now , '' declared Phillips . `` I said till midnight . '' It was obvious to Lambert that the detective had become certain during the course of the evening that the scientist was mad . The ceaseless fiddling and the lack of results or even spectacular sights had convinced Phillips that he had to do with a crank . `` I think I have it now , '' said Lambert coolly .