midnight
In this manner , then , did hour after hour pass away , a light land-breeze blowing , but coming so directly into the bay as to induce Raoul not to lift his kedge . Ghita and her uncle , Carlo Giuntotardi , had come off about ten ; but there were still no signs of movement on board the lugger . To own the truth , Raoul was in no hurry to sail , for the longer his departure was protracted the longer would he have the happiness of retaining the lovely girl on board ; and the zephyr of the succeeding day would be almost certain to carry le Feu-Follet up to the island-like promontory of Monte Argentaro , the point where stood the watch-towers of which Carlo was the keeper , and in one of which he resided . Under these circumstances , therefore , it is not surprising that the rising of the land-breeze was overlooked , or at least disregarded ; and that Raoul sat conversing with Ghita on deck until long past midnight , ere he allowed her to seek her little cabin , where everything had been properly arranged for her reception . To own the truth , Raoul was so confident of having completely mystified all on shore that he felt no apprehensions from that quarter ; and , desirous of prolonging his present happiness as much as possible , he had very coolly determined not to sail until the southerly air of the morning should come ; which , as usual , would just suffice to carry him well into the canal , when the zephyr would do the rest . Little did this hardy adventurer suspect what had occurred on shore since he quitted it ; nor was he at all aware that Tommaso Tonti was at watch in the harbor , ready to report the slightest indication on the part of the lugger of a wish to quit the bay . But , while Raoul was so indifferent to the danger he ran , the feeling was quite the reverse with Ithuel Bolt .