nearly
midnight before
Sommers offered to do what he could , -- to hunt Parker up , get him on his feet , and bring him back to Chicago . He would leave that night . They had stopped at the club to finish their talk , and while Colonel Hitchcock was writing some letters , Sommers drove to his rooms for his bag . It was nearly midnight before he returned . As they drove over to the station , Colonel Hitchcock said : `` I have told him the whole thing : how hard pressed I am ; how his mother is worrying and ill -- well , I do n't feel it will make much difference . He could _ see _ all that . '' `` You must remember that he has always had every inducement to enjoy himself , '' the young doctor ventured .