midnight
`` He referred me to Captain Van Dome for confirmation of the saving of the few remaining passengers on the raft , and her presence in the ship Latona , together with that of the child and negress . `` I have seen Captain Van Dorne , and he admits the part he played , on the representation of Bainrothe ; and , through the evidence of a newspaper advertisement , of the previous autumn , which had met his eye , to satisfy the puerile scruples of this really good but ignorant man -- going no deeper than the surface in his code of morals -- they were obliged to tear out the record of their names , and take refuge temporarily in the long-boat , before he would swear to Miriam , in her state-room , that Bainrothe was not on board . `` As to the _ habeas corpus _ which would have gone into effect to-day , and which the wretch managed to defeat by requiring an error to be corrected in the writ , that no guiltless man would have observed , I fear sometimes it will prove ineffectual if we wait for the morrow . My plan was to go at midnight with a party of my friends to the house of this miscreant , and take the law in my own hands ; but , in this I could not stir , for the reasons I have given you . Besides that , it was risking too much -- her safety and reputation . `` She can not be secretly removed , of course , for we have a detective in the house able and strong , besides the old well-paid negress , both of whom -- '' `` Have played you false , '' I interrupted , rising impetuously , and throwing back the loose leaf of the door , `` and I am here to tell you this . O friends , have you forgotten me ? ''