midnight
Only a young fellow behind whose chair at dinner he was privileged to stand . He had seen him for the first time but a few days before , and he did not feel under any peculiar obligations to him . Mr. Ebénier took the three bags of gold from the locker , and laid them on the cabin table . It was midnight by the clock which hung in the cabin -- the dead hour of night , when all were sleeping . The fire on shore had burned out , and all was still save the rolling sea . The steward went to the door , opened it , passed up to the deck ; there was no one in sight , and hardly a light to be seen on the land . Returning to the cabin , he poured out the contents of one of the bags on the table , and proceeded to count the gold .