midnight
One day last summer , Monsieur de Boisdhyver told me his brother 's dying words , and it was I , Monsieur Dan , who was able to give the money for this strange expedition . The poor Marquis had lost quite all his fortune . '' `` I understand , '' said Frost . `` But , yet , madame , I do not see the necessity for the secrecy , the mystery , for these strange signals at night , for these midnight investigations , for this schooner and its rough crew , for Nancy 's disappearance , for my own imprisonment here . '' `` Please , please , '' murmured Madame de la Fontaine , as she held up her hands in smiling protest . `` You go too fast for me . _ Un moment , mon ami , un moment _ .