eight o'clock
It being , by this time , rather late , Smellie shortly afterwards rose , and bidding adieu at the gangway to his old shipmates , repaired on board his new command , which was under orders to sail next morning at daybreak . As for me , I went off to the midshipmen 's berth , which , through Keene , Woods , and Williams , the master 's mate , being drafted on board the _ Virginia _ , was now almost empty , and shifted my few traps forthwith into the cabin recently vacated by Smellie , scarcely knowing meanwhile whether I was standing upon my head or my heels . On the following morning Captain Dubosc and Lieutenant Le Breton -LRB- we now discovered that the _ Virginia 's _ people had assumed the names of the officers of the _ Vestale _ in addition to appropriating the name of the ship -RRB- came on board the _ Daphne _ to breakfast ; Armitage and old Mildmay being invited to meet them . The meal appeared to be a protracted one , for it was served punctually at eight o'clock and the participants did not appear on deck until half - past ten . The secret , however , soon came out , for when they did at length put in an appearance it became perfectly evident , from sundry disjointed remarks which passed between them , that something of importance was on the _ tapis _ . The Frenchmen 's gig was awaiting them , and they soon passed down over the side , Captain Dubosc 's last words being : `` Well , then , _ mon ami _ , it is all settled , and our contingent shall be ready for a start punctually at two o'clock _ Au revoir _ . '' I was not left long in ignorance of the precise nature of the arrangement which had just been concluded , for as soon as the French gig was fairly away from our vessel 's side , Captain Vernon beckoned me to him and said : `` Just step down below with me , Hawkesley ; I want to have a talk with you . ''