midnight
One must be dressed and ready . At that very moment , perhaps , a man might be riding into town with the order . The musicians were not asleep . Young Matthew Coffin , sealing his letter some time after midnight , and coming out into the moonlight and the fragrance of the locust trees , had an inspiration . All was in readiness for the order when it should come , and who , in the meantime , wanted to do so prosaic a thing as rest ? `` Boys , let us serenade the ladies ! '' The silver night wore on .