twelve o'clock
However , upstairs he went , the waiter slowly preceding him ; and on the door being opened the archdeacon was discovered standing in the middle of the room , erect , indeed , as usual , but oh ! how sorrowful ! and on the dingy sofa behind him reclined his patient wife . `` Papa , I thought you were never coming back , '' said the lady ; `` it 's twelve o'clock . '' `` Yes , my dear , '' said the warden . `` The attorney-general named ten for my meeting ; to be sure ten is late , but what could I do , you know ? Great men will have their own way . ''