about midnight
The old man tried to recall Peyton 's words in asking him to send Elizabeth to the parlor , and made a mental effort to put this and that together ; failing in which , he decided to repeat nothing of Peyton 's conversation , lest it might in some way appear that he had `` lent aid . '' He now lighted his lantern , and sallied forth on his long walk homeward over the windswept roads . Elizabeth , who , much to the dismay of her aunt 's curiosity , had not broken silence save to give orders to the servants , now charged Williams to stay up till Colden should return , and to inform him that all were abed , that there was no news of the escaped prisoner , and that she desired the major to hasten to New York and relieve her family 's anxiety . This command the steward executed about midnight , with the result that the major , utterly tired out and sadly disappointed , rode away from the manor-house a third time that night , more disgruntled than on either of the two previous occasions . By this time the house was dark and silent , Elizabeth and her aunt having long retired , the latter with a remark concerning the effect of late hours on the complexion , a hope that Mr. Valentine would not fall into a puddle on the way home , and a curiosity as to how the rebel captain fared . The rebel captain , afar in his spacious chamber , was mentally in a state of felicity . As he ceased to remember the conquered , abashed look Elizabeth 's face had last worn , he ceased to feel ashamed of having deceived her .