midnight
`` Better give him a hot bath and put him to bed . That 's what I 'm going to do . '' He walked back to the hotel , glad to stretch his aching muscles . The lobby was empty , and behind the desk the night clerk was waiting for the midnight train . Bassett was wide awake by that time , and he went back to the desk and lounged against it . `` You look as though you 'd struck oil , '' said the night clerk . `` Oil !