midnight
Just behind the elder lady stood a silk-hatted dignitary in the prime of life , and behind him a footman or valet , to whom the porter was handing Miss Ray 's belongings . And what the vice-president so much resented was that Miss Ray had not only never mentioned her purpose of leaving the train at Sacramento , but never so much as introduced her friends , at whom the vice-president smiled invitingly while accepting Miss Ray 's courteous but brief thanks for `` so much attention during the afternoon , '' but who merely bowed in acknowledgment when she would have addressed them on the subject of Miss Ray 's being of so much help to her when help was so much needed , and who spirited the young lady away to the handsome carriage awaiting her . The vice-president was distinctly of the opinion that folks did n't need to slink off in that way unless they were ashamed of where they were going or afraid of being found out , whereat Stuyvesant found himself gritting his teeth with wrath , and so whirled about and left her . It was after midnight when they reached the pier at Oakland . There , under the great train-shed , track after track was covered with troop cars and a full regiment lay sleeping . An alert young officer of the guard raised his hand in salute as Stuyvesant addressed him . No , there were no ambulances , no soldiers from the Presidio .