midnight
The evidence , including Dock 's letter and the absence of Bessie , was more than enough to hold him , and he was committed for trial . The testimony was strong enough to hold Mr. Fairfield , and he also was committed ; but Mr. Watson , out of consideration for the poor old man , procured bail for him . It was in vain he protested that he had nothing to do with the affair , and knew nothing about it . His midnight meeting with Dock Vincent condemned him . The deputy sheriff bore Dock to the jail ; for Mr. Gayles suggested that Constable Cooke 's fingers were slippery , though he did not know that they had already been soiled by a bribe . Levi hastened on board of the yacht as soon as the case had been disposed of , where his crew had made every preparation for the intended cruise -- how long it was to be they knew not then . The wind was blowing a smashing breeze when she sailed , and in forty hours she was off Sandy Hook .