midnight
Act now . Ferguson gone . `` G. '' Being in town he dropped in at one or two places of popular resort , and had more or less conversation with the hangers-on at the open bars . He drank more freely than usual , too , and while by no means off his balance , mentally or physically , when at midnight he turned his horse 's head homewards , he was rather more capable of any deed of meanness than would ordinarily have been deemed expedient . His quarters reached , he stood for a moment gazing along the dark and silent row . Suddenly , soft and sweet on the clear night air he heard the notes of a guitar , then a tenor voice , well trained , rich and melodious . He well knew there was no officer in the garrison who could sing like that .