eleven P.M.
Having thus settled that question , the Gray Fox bethought him that it might be just as well to scoot for home , lest other councils should prevail about the capital . Such councils had prevailed , and in the recent past . He had still in mind the embarrassing episode of Willett 's `` instructed '' descent upon Almy . In view of all the resultant complications he could not well forget it , and so , having finished his chat with Pelham , the tireless brigadier went bowling away by mountain road , the faithful Bright beside him , and was landed at his own door soon after eleven P.M. in abundant time to meet the situation on the morrow . Even in those days , when the stars went to the fighting force instead of the staff corps , it sometimes happened that a bureau officer had political wires to work . And there were other reasons why he had come not a moment too soon . People had so little to talk about in those far Western wilds that they who had , as related , unexpectedly met our hostess and her guest in the darkness , and learned from them that they and Archer and Lilian had been `` looking on for ever so long , '' must needs hurry back to the ballroom and tell it over and again .