six o'clock in the morning
`` Tut , tut , '' answered the Englishman , with an air of slight impatience ; `` I must trouble you to sit down , sir , and attend . Really , '' he continued , looking around , `` I must insist upon the attention of everyone , as I shall need your intelligent co-operation . My plan is this : I mean to make this a night attack . We should leave the harbour here in four days ' time -- that is to say , on the 23rd , if the weather holds , and not later than six o'clock in the morning . It may possibly be earlier , but that will depend to some extent on the wind . '' M. de la Pailletine by this time was white with passion . He began to comprehend that his guest would not dare to speak thus without some high authority to back him .