midnight
Before leaving Harrisville his investigations were all drifting towards great possible changes in the production of iron and steel . He was glad to take this trip to Europe , as it might afford him opportunity to verify or change some of his conclusions . He resolved to use every moment for the enlargement of his powers . After bidding May and Gertrude good-night , he told the colonel that he should now take the Elevated Railway for the steamer `` Campania , '' as he wished to observe at midnight the firing of the great battery of boilers of the steamer ; and that he would return in time for breakfast with the party . `` Let eight o'clock then be the hour , George , '' and the capitalist and his trusted superintendent separated for the night . The elevated railway was not swift enough to carry George Ingram to Pier No. 40 , so anxious was he to see the midnight fires started in the hundred furnaces of one of the two largest steamers afloat . It was fifteen minutes to twelve o'clock when he reached the dock , and provided with a letter of introduction to the chief engineer , he hurried as fast as possible to the officer 's cabin .