twelve
o'clock
` Not till you let me go -- not till you let me go -- Never -- never ! ' screamed the girl . Sikes looked on , for a minute , watching his opportunity , and suddenly pinioning her hands dragged her , struggling and wrestling with him by the way , into a small room adjoining , where he sat himself on a bench , and thrusting her into a chair , held her down by force . She struggled and implored by turns until twelve o'clock had struck , and then , wearied and exhausted , ceased to contest the point any further . With a caution , backed by many oaths , to make no more efforts to go out that night , Sikes left her to recover at leisure and rejoined Fagin . ` Whew ! ' said the housebreaker wiping the perspiration from his face .