midnight
The westward front of the officers ' homes stood in plain view , on bright nights at least , of the sentry at the guard-house , and needed no other protector . On dark nights it was supposed to look out for itself . A lonely time of it , as a rule , had No. 5 , the `` backyard sentry , '' but this October night he lacked not for sensation . Lights burned until very late in many of the quarters , while at Captain Wren 's and Lieutenant Blakely 's people were up and moving about until long after midnight . Of course No. 5 had heard all about the dreadful affair of the early evening . What he and his fellows puzzled over was the probable cause of Captain Wren 's furious assault upon his subaltern . Many a theory was afloat , Duane , with unlooked-for discretion , having held his tongue as to the brief conversation that preceded the blow .