eight o’clock before
Generals who could be trusted were summoned from their quarters , and as much of the State affairs as was thought desirable was told to each , strict injunctions being given to them to get all their available force together . The same was done with such of the more powerful lords as Nyleptha knew she could rely on , several of whom left that very day for distant parts of the country to gather up their tribesmen and retainers . Sealed orders were dispatched to the rulers of far-off cities , and some twenty messengers were sent off before nightfall with instructions to ride early and late till they reached the distant chiefs to whom their letters were addressed : also many spies were set to work . All the afternoon and evening we laboured , assisted by some confidential scribes , Nyleptha showing an energy and resource of mind that astonished me , and it was eight o'clock before we got back to our quarters . Here we heard from Alphonse , who was deeply aggrieved because our non-return had spoilt his dinner -LRB- for he had turned cook again now -RRB- , that Good had come back from his hawking and gone on duty . As instructions had already been given to the officer of the outer guard to double the sentries at the gate , and as we had no reason to fear any immediate danger , we did not think it worth while to hunt him up and tell him anything of what had passed , which at best was , under the peculiar circumstances of the case , one of those tasks that one prefers to postpone , so after swallowing our food we turned in to get some much-needed rest . Before we did so , however , it occurred to Curtis to tell old Umslopogaas to keep a look-out in the neighbourhood of Nyleptha 's private apartments .