midnight
Pembroke recognized the devoted soul of Thaddeus of Warsaw in this lofty burst of enthusiasm ; and aware that his father 's munificence and manner of conferring it would go further towards removing these scruples than all his own arguments , he did not attempt to combat a resolution which he knew he could not subdue , but tried to prevail with him to become his guest until something could be arranged to suit his wishes . With an unuttered emotion at the thought of meeting Miss Beaufort , Thaddeus had just consented to accompany Somerset to the Castle , after Sir Robert had been apprized of his coming , when the countess 's old and faithfully attached manservant entered , and respectfully informed her guests that his lady , not willing to disturb their conversation , had retired to her room for the night , but that beds were prepared for them in the Abbey , and she hoped to meet both friends at her breakfast table in the morning . The honest man then added , `` It was now past eleven o'clock ; and after their honors had partaken of their yet untasted refreshment , he would be ready to attend them to their chambers . '' Pembroke started up at this , and shaking his friend warm by the hand , bade him , he said , `` a short farewell ; '' and hastening down the hill , arrived at the gate of the Wold Lodge just at the turn of midnight . At an early hour the next morning he gave orders to his groom , wrote a slight apology to Shafto for his abrupt departure , and , mounting his fleet horse , galloped away full of delight towards Somerset Castle . But Sobieski did not follow the attentive domestic of his maternal friend to the prepared apartment in the Abbey . He asked to be conducted back through the night shadowed grounds to the little hotel he had seen early in the evening on his approach to the mansion .