about noon
After dinner , and while the rest of us were chatting and smoking over our wine , the admiral , apologising for being obliged to temporarily absent himself , withdrew , taking Captain Harrison with him . They were absent for nearly an hour , and when they returned there was noticeable in the skipper 's manner a subdued but joyous exultation that told of good news . I did not , however , learn what it was until we had left the Pen and were driving back to our hotel in Kingston by the dazzling silver radiance of a tropical full moon . And , prior to that , the admiral had said to me , as I bade him good-night -- `` Come and see me in my office to-morrow about noon , Mr Courtenay ; I want to have a talk to you . '' As soon as we were clear of the Pen grounds and fairly on our road to Kingston , the skipper said to me -- `` Mr Courtenay , do you happen to have noticed that fine frigate , the _ Minerva _ , lying just inshore of the flag-ship ? '' `` Yes , sir , I have , '' said I. `` She is a beauty , and is said to be a wonderful sailer , especially on a taut bowline . I heard yesterday that her captain is ashore , down with yellow fever . ''