four o'clock in the morning
he gasped as he grasped the full meaning of the document , that piece of news , as staggering as the victory itself , that had lain in the staff vaults for years . `` Well , we need n't give it out to the press ; at least , not until after mature consideration , '' he declared when they had reached the end of Partow 's appeal . `` Now we 'll hear what the staff has to say for itself after gratifying the wish of a dead man , '' he added as a messenger gave him another sheet . `` The staff , in loyalty to its dead leader who made victory possible , and in loyalty to the principles of defence for which the army fought , begs to say to the nation -- '' It was four o'clock in the morning when this despatch concluded with `` We heartily agree with the foregoing , '' and the cabinet read the names of all the general staff and the corps and division commanders . Coursing crowds in the streets were still shouting hoarsely and sometimes drunkenly : `` On to the Gray capital ! Nothing can stop us now ! '' The premier tried to imagine what a sea of faces in the great square would look like in a rage .