midnight
The man hesitated no longer -- he turned and ran as though for his life . In a few minutes he was round the corner of the street and out of sight . Laverick returned slowly to the entry . A distant clock struck midnight . A couple of clerks came along the pavement on the other side , their hands and arms full of letters . Laverick hesitated . He was never afterwards able to account for the impulse which prevented his calling out to them .