about two o'clock
Norman 's dark wet walk did him physically no harm , and morally some good . He started on it in that frame of mind which induces a man to look with indifference on all coming evils under the impression that the evils already come are too heavy to admit of any increase . But by the time that he was thoroughly wet through , well splashed with mud , and considerably fatigued by his first five or six miles ' walk , he began to reflect that life was not over with him , and that he must think of future things as well as those that were past . He got home about two o'clock , and having knocked up his landlady , Mrs. Richards , betook himself to bed . Alaric had been in his room for the last two hours , but of Charley and his latch-key Mrs. Richards knew nothing . She stated her belief , however , that two a.m. seldom saw that erratic gentleman in his bed . On the following morning , Alaric , when he got his hot water , heard that Norman returned during the night from Hampton , and he immediately guessed what had brought him back .