midnight
Together they could have worked out so many details of travel and possible adventure that it would have been almost as if they had set out on their journey in fact . As it was , the mere sketching of the route fired The Rat 's imagination . He forged ahead with the story of adventure , and filled it with such mysterious purport and design that the Squad at times gasped for breath . In his glowing version the Secret Two entered cities by midnight and sang and begged at palace gates where kings driving outward paused to listen and were given the Sign . `` Though it would not always be kings , '' he said . `` Sometimes it would be the poorest people . Sometimes they might seem to be beggars like ourselves , when they were only Secret Ones disguised .