midnight
For his own and Emma Cavendish 's sake he must now speak . He went straight to the telegraph office and dispatched a message to Miss Cavendish , saying that he should be down to Wendover by the next train to pay her a flying visit . Then he hurried to his office , put his papers in order , left some directions with his clerk , and hastened off to the railway station , where he caught the train just as it started , and jumped aboard the cars while they were in motion . It was midnight when the Richmond train reached Wendover , and Alden Lytton went to the Reindeer for the night . Early in the morning he arose and breakfasted , and ordered a horse to take him to Blue Cliff Hall . Just as he was getting into the saddle Jerome , the colored footman from the Hall , rode up holding two papers in his left hand , and staring at them with perplexity . `` Halloo , Jerome , how do you do ? ''