six o'clock
Now night fell upon the poor little city and mercifully hid it from view . They had made the start too late for hurry to be any object . It was only a three hours ' run for the _ Cypriani _ , but she took it slowly , using four . At half-past six o'clock , when their destination was drawing near , the two men went below and dined . At seven , while they were still at table , they heard the slow-down signal , and , a moment later , the rattle of the anchor line . Now , at quarter-past seven , Varney lounged alone by the starboard rail and acquainted himself with the purview . They had run perhaps quarter of a mile above the town , for reasons which he had not communicated to the sailing-master in transmitting his orders .