midnight
What about the future site of the Capital -- would the North get it , or the South ? All these , the raging questions of the day , it took Hamilton the greater part of the evening to answer or parry , but he deftly altered his orbit until he stood beside Mrs. Croix , the company before her shrine . He had encountered her eyes , but although he knew the supreme surrender of women in the first stages of passion , he also understood the vanities and weaknesses of human nature too well not to apprehend a chill of the affections under too prolonged a mortification . Clinton entered at midnight ; and after almost bending his gouty knee to the hostess , whom he had never seen in such softened yet dazzling beauty , he measured Hamilton for a moment , then laughed and held out his hand . `` You are a wonderful fighter , '' he said , `` and you beat me squarely . We 'll meet in open combat again and again , no doubt of it , and I hope we will , for you rouse all my mettle ; but I like you , sir , I like you . I ca n't help it . ''