midnight
For Captain Cable 's hospitality was not showy or self-sufficient . `` I 'll answer that and ask you another . I expected them last night . They 'll likely come down with the tide , soon after midnight to-night . And now I 'll ask you , what brought you aboard this ship , here in Dantzic River , Mr. Cartoner ? '' `` A letter from a Frenchman you know as well as I do -- Paul Deulin . Like to read it ? ''