about
midnight
He informed me that his foresight had enlisted and detained Peterborough for this particular moment and identical piece of duty , which seemed possible , and in a singular manner incited me to make use of Peterborough . For the princess still denied me the look of love 's intelligence , she avoided me , she still kept to the riddle , and my delicacy went so far that I was restrained from writing . I agreed with my father that we could not remain in Germany ; but how could I quit the field and fly to England on such terms ? I composed the flattest letter ever written , requesting the princess to meet me about midnight in the library , that I might have the satisfaction of taking my leave of her ; and this done , my spirits rose , and it struck me my father was practically wise , and I looked on Peterborough as an almost supernatural being . If Ottilia refused to come , at least I should know my fate . Was I not bound in manly honour to be to some degree adventurous ? So I reasoned in exclamations , being , to tell truth , tired of seeming to be what I was not quite , of striving to become what I must have divined that I never could quite attain to .