twelve o'clock
The message on the handkerchief that Nino had received the night before warned him to keep away from the Palazzo Carmandola . Nino reflected that this warning was probably due to Hedwig 's anxiety for his personal safety , and he resolved to risk anything rather than remain in ignorance of her destination . It must be a case of giving some signal . But this evening he had to sing at the theatre , and , therefore , without more ado , he left us , and went to bed again , where he stayed until twelve o'clock . Then he went to rehearsal , arriving an hour behind time , at least , a matter which he treated with the coolest indifference . After that he got a pound of small shot , and amused himself with throwing a few at a time at the kitchen window from the little court at the back of our house , where the well is . It seemed a strangely childish amusement for a great singer .