nearly twelve o'clock
On the other side of Guildford he was pulled up by another policeman because he had no light at all . Passing through Kingston , the lamp began to flicker , sending forth brilliant dots and dashes , which continued until they were on Putney Common , where the lamp 's message was answered from a camp of Boy Scouts , one signalman of the troop being dragged from his bed for the purpose , the innocent child standing in his shirt at the call of duty . `` A delightful day , '' said Hamilton at parting that night . -LRB- It was nearly twelve o'clock . -RRB- `` I 'm sorry you 've had so much trouble with that lamp , Bones . What did you call it ? '' `` I say , old fellow , '' said Bones , ignoring the question , `` I hope , when you saw me picking a spider off dear old Miss Marguerite 's shoulder , you did n't -- er -- think anything ? ''