midnight
Here was twelve o'clock at night and an absent wife -- a detestable combination . Twelve o'clock at night outside a house is an immoral hour , inside a house it is non-moral , but respectable . There is nothing in the street at that time but dubiety . Who would be a husband listening through the tolling of midnight for a muffled footfall ? -- And he had told her not to go : had given an order , formulated his imperative and inflexible will -- `` Never mind ! I 'll stand by it , '' said he , `` this is the last straw . One break and then freedom .