midnight
Indeed , I came to my cousin Mountstuart 's house expressly because I was told you would be at his wife 's ball . My regret is , that the news which brought me in search of you did n't reach me earlier , for if it had I should have come with my wife , and have got at you in time to send you off -- if you agreed to go -- to-night . As it is , the matter will have to rest till to-morrow morning . It 's too late for you to catch the midnight boat across the Channel . '' `` Across the Channel ? '' echoed Ivor . `` You want me to go to France ? ''