midnight
An hour or two had elapsed since the last train left , and George had not had more than twenty minutes ' start ahead of him . He took down in his pocket-book the time for the departure of the next train ; and then choosing a secluded spot in the office , where he would be out of observation , and yet able to see all who came up for tickets , he waited patiently until the slow , dawdling hand of the clock neared the hour . Hardy felt the chances were fifty to one that while he was waiting there George might be at some other station , leaving London without a trace to his whereabouts ; he thought whether , after all , George might not have purposely , instead of accidentally , left the `` Bradshaw '' with that particular page turned down , in order that , should he be sought , a wrong scent might be given ; and even if he intended to travel by this line and to one of these particular places , might he not choose nighttime as the most desirable for his object ? But Hardy had _ purpose _ in him ; he would not throw away the strongest clue he had , although that was faint , and he resolved to stay there until midnight , it need be , rather than abandon his design , His patience was not put to such a test as this . While he was standing , with palpitating heart , behind that door in the booking office , George was in the porters ' room , not a hundred yards off , waiting with deeper anxiety for the clock to point to the hour when the train should start . Presently , the first bell rang . A number of people , with bags and packages in hand , came crowding up to the ticket office , but George was not there .