nearly three o'clock in the afternoon
At the last , when Marian was leaving the ship , it would be time for him to assert his right as her husband , and to defy the wretch who had beguiled her away from him . Having once arrived at this decision , he was able to await the issue of events with some degree of tranquility . He had no doubt , even now , of his wife 's affection for him , no fear as to the ultimate triumph of her love over all the lies and artifices of that scheming scoundrel , her father . It was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon when the steward came to tell him that they were on the point of arriving at their destination . The wharf where they were to land was within sight . The man had promised to give him due warning of this event , and John Saltram had therefore contrived to keep himself quiet amidst all the feverish impatience and confusion of mind prevailing amongst the other passengers . He was rewarded for his prudence ; for when he rose to go on deck , he found himself stronger than he had felt yet .