midnight
A fitting reply was made to this gallant , and , at the moment , certainly sincere speech , after which the matter was discussed between the two , with greater calmness and far more intelligibly . Don Luis succeeded in restraining his impatience ; and the generous confidence with which Mercedes gradually got to betray her interest in him , and the sweet , holy earnestness with which she urged the probability of success , brought him at length to view the enterprise as one of lofty objects , rather than as a scheme which flattered his love of adventure . Doña Beatriz left the lovers alone for quite two hours , the queen requiring her presence all that time ; and soon after she returned , her reckless , roving , indiscreet , but noble-hearted and manly nephew , took his leave . Mercedes and her guardian , however , did not retire until midnight ; the former laying open her whole heart to the marchioness , and explaining all her hopes as they were connected with the enterprise of Colon . Doña Beatriz was both gratified and pained by this confession , while she smiled at the ingenuity of love , in coupling the great designs of the Genoese with the gratification of its own wishes . Still she was not displeased . Luis de Bobadilla was the son of an only and much-beloved brother , and she had transferred to her nephew most of the affection she had felt for the father .