midnight
answered George , `` there is no help for it . I did my utmost to prevent their signing . I knew that those depositions were their own death warrant , -- and that is why , though I was satisfied that the prisoner is a foreign devil , I had hoped to be able to shut my eyes . I can now no longer do so , and as the inevitable consequence , I must Blue-Pool both the Professors before midnight . What man of ordinary feeling would not under these circumstances have tried to dissuade them from deposing as they have done ? '' By this time the Professors had started to their feet , and there was a look of horrified astonishment on the faces of all present , save that of George , who seemed quite happy . `` What monstrous absurdity is this ? ''