midnight
on Saturday
It was dinner-time ; restaurants exhaled their pungent odours , and Will felt sharpening appetite . For the first time since his catastrophe , he granted himself the dinner of a well-to-do man , and , as would naturally befall in such a case , made his indulgence large . Several days passed and brought no letter from any one . But at midnight on Saturday , there lay awaiting him a letter addressed in Sherwood 's well-known hand . Godfrey began by excusing himself for his delay in replying ; he had had rather a nasty attack of illness , and was only now able to hold his pen . But it was lucky he had not written before ; this very morning there had reached him the very best news . `` The father of the man who owes me ten thousand pounds is dying .