midnight
Which was naturally rather astounding news to Teddy , whose own eyes had seen Mr. Bullard enter the Glasgow sleeping car at Euston , about twenty-four hours earlier . Dr. Handyside was too fond of his easy-going seaside existence to be readily induced to leave home . At the same time , he had not severed all ties with Glasgow , which ties included a select coterie of kindred spirits who dined together once a month during the winter in a somewhat old-fashioned restaurant ; and he would have been exceedingly loth to miss one of their cosy gatherings . But he insisted on sleeping in his own bed , and accordingly , there being no steamer connection at so late an hour , it was his custom to return by train to Helensburgh and thence complete the journey in his car which he drove himself , reaching home shortly after midnight . To-night 's dinner , however , had seemed hopelessly beyond his reach , owing to his injured foot , which as yet merely allowed him to hobble a few yards , and which would have been worse than useless in driving . But we are never too old to worry over trifles , and in the course of the morning , while in the garage , he blurted out the difficulty to Caw . It was really an appeal , and at any other time Caw would have been mildly amused .