midnight
He knew the peril of it , but his honour was at stake ; he must go . That evening he wrote two letters explaining his purpose , one to Lucie , one to the doctor . On the next night he went out , pretending he would be back by-and-by . The two letters he left with the trusty porter to be delivered before midnight ; and , with a heavy heart , leaving all that was dear on earth behind him , he journeyed on -- drawn , like the mariner in the old story , to the Loadstone Rock . _ IV . -- The Track of a Storm _ In the buildings of Tellson 's Bank in Paris , Mr. Lorry sat by a wood fire -LRB- it was early September , but the blighted year was prematurely cold -RRB- , and on his honest face there was a deeper shade than the pendant lamp could throw -- a shade of horror . By him sat Dr. Manette ; Lucie and her child were in an inner room .