noon
But almost alone , moving forward through the grey evening to a prison , with so many measured days before him , and nothing to exhilarate or anger -- in this condition it was little wonder if he felt , and betrayed that he felt , the blood run slow in his veins ; if he thought more of the weeping wife and ruined home which he had left behind him than of the cause in which he had spent himself . But God knows , they had no monopoly of gloom . I felt almost as sad myself . Long before sunset the flush of triumph , the heat of battle , which had warmed my heart at noon , were gone , giving place to a chill dissatisfaction , a nausea , a despondency such as I have known follow a long night at the tables . Hitherto there had been difficulties to be overcome , risks to be run , doubts about the end . Now the end was certain and very near ; so near that it filled all the prospect . One hour of triumph I might have , and would have , and I hugged the thought of it as a gambler hugs his last stake , planning the place and time and mode , and trying to occupy myself wholly with it .