midnight
There is in her aspect , modes of living , and even in her habits of business , an air of decayed gentility that is wanting to the ports , shops , and marts of the more vulgar parts of the world ; as if conscious of having been so long the focus of human refinement , it was unbecoming , in these later days , to throw aside all traces of her history and power . Man , and the climate , too , seem in unison ; one meeting the cares of life with a _ far niente _ manner that is singularly in accordance with the dreamy and soothing atmosphere he respires . Just as day dawned , the fall of a billet of wood on the deck of the Feu-Follet gave the first intimation that any one was stirring in or near the haven . If there had been a watch on board that craft throughout the night -- and doubtless such had been the case -- it had been kept in so quiet and unobtrusive a manner as to render it questionable to the jealous eyes which had been riveted on her from the shore until long past midnight . Now , however , everything was in motion , and in less than five minutes after that billet of wood had fallen from the hands of the cook , as he was about to light his galley fire , the tops of the hats and caps of some fifty or sixty sailors were seen moving to and fro , just above the upper edge of the bulwarks . Three minutes later , and two men appeared near the knight-heads , each with his arms folded , looking at the vessel 's hawse , and taking a survey of the state of the harbor , and of objects on the surrounding shore . The two individuals who were standing in the conspicuous position named were Raoul Yvard himself , and Ithuel Bolt .