four o'clock
You see , it was not a sudden idea . On no other evening would he have found the gate open after sunset , nor would he have been certain to have found the major absent from his quarters . He must have been waiting patiently for his opportunity and , as soon as he heard that another battalion was coming into the garrison , he must have resolved to act . More than that , he must have calculated that instead of arriving at four o'clock , as they were timed to do , they would be detained and not get in until after dark . `` They are clear-headed fellows , these Scotchmen ; whether they are in our army or Frederick 's . What makes the affair more wonderful is that this was quite a young fellow , and probably understood no German ; but I think that he would have acted more wisely , had he waited until the spring . '' `` I do n't know , '' the other said .