eight o'clock
When he had returned to his office , which was in a log extension at the back of the building , he locked the door and read what he could of Miss Schuyler 's illegible chirography . That it was a command to wait upon her at once he managed to decipher , but no more at the moment ; and feeling as if the heavens had opened , he despatched a hasty note , telling her that he could not leave his work before night , when he would hasten with the pent-up assurances of a love which had been his torment and delight for many weeks . And then he answered a summons to Washington 's office , and discussed a letter to the Congress as if there were no such person in the world as Elizabeth Schuyler , as indeed for the hour there was not , nor for the rest of the afternoon . But at eight o'clock he presented himself at the Cochraine quarters , and Miss Schuyler was alone in the drawing-room . It was some time before they arrived at the question which had weighed so heavily on Hamilton 's mind . When , however , they came down to conversation , Miss Schuyler remarked : -- `` I am sure that it will make no difference with my dear father , who is the most just and sensible of men . I had never thought of your parentage at all .