midnight
And her Sunday 's illness was a palpable pretense -- an arranged affair , no doubt , to permit more boating and dallying in this fairyland of forest and river . What thanks he owed to that Frenchman , Marigny ! Indeed , it was easy to hoodwink this hard-headed man in aught that affected Cynthia . Count Edouard displayed a good deal of tact when he called at the Savoy Hotel late the previous night , but his obvious relief at finding Vanrenen in London had induced the latter to depart for Bristol by a midnight train rather than trust wholly to Mrs. Leland 's leisured strategy . He did not go straight to Hereford for the best of reasons . He had told Cynthia of Mrs. Leland 's coming , and had heard of if not from her in response to his letter . If he rushed off now to intercept the motorists at Hereford he would defeat the very purpose he had in view , which was to interpose an effectual shield between the scoundrelly lordling and his prey , while avoiding any risk of hurting his daughter 's feelings .