midnight
For , in my breast pocket in that innocent coat , which I could now see lying on the window-seat , were the duplicate despatches to Mr. Mason , for which , late the night before , I had got the Secretary 's signature . They were to go at ten that morning to Wilmington , by the Navy Department 's special messenger . I had taken them to insure care and certainty . I had worked on them till midnight , and they had not been signed till near one o'clock . Heavens and earth , and here it was five o'clock ! The man must be half-way to Wilmington by this time . I sent the doctor for Lafarge , my clerk .