eleven
o'clock
It broke down completely and finally between moonrise and midnight -- a period that began with Sally calling under Iggulden 's window , `` Come out , Dr. Conrad , and see the phosphorescence in the water ; it 's going to be quite bright presently , '' and ended with , `` Good gracious , how late it is ! Sha n't we catch it ? '' an exclamation both contributed to . For it was certainly past eleven o'clock . But in that little space it had broken down , that delusion ; and the doctor knew perfectly well , before ten o'clock , certainly , that all the abstract possible wives of his perplexity meant Sally , and Sally only . And , further , that Sally was at every point of the compass -- that she was in the phosphorescence of the sea , and the still golden colour of the rising moon . That space was full of her , and that each little wave-splash at their feet said `` Sally , '' and then gave place to another that said `` Sally '' again .