midnight
So the laugh was on the voluntary witness . '' `` Hold on , my friend , your Castalia centenarian proves just what I said at the outset , that the use of tobacco prolongs life , but I am half inclined myself to feel that the less tobacco active Americans use , the better . '' Then throwing his cigar away , he said good-night and left the smoking room . Others stacked their cards , smoked cigarettes , and then sought their staterooms , and finally the ship 's bell rang out the last patron and announced the midnight hour ; the steward was left alone . He had been unusually busy all the evening furnishing ale , porter , and beer , a few only taking wine . The steward was glad to complete his report of sales for the first day out , and turn off the lights and seek his berth for the night . The `` Majestic '' shot past Cape Cod and was plowing her way towards the banks of Newfoundland .