midnight
My mission has indeed succeeded . How proud little Pauline will be of her cavalier . '' With such thoughts uppermost in his mind , he forgot his bodily fatigue , and rode back to Quebec with more eagerness than he had gone from it . Notwithstanding the late hour at which he arrived in Quebec -- it was considerably after midnight -- Hardinge repaired directly to the Chateau St. Louis . There was no bustle in the Castle , but his eye noticed signs of unusual vigilance . The guard about the entry was a double one , and many of the lower windows were lighted . It was evident also that his coming was expected , for , immediately on his dismounting , his horse was taken charge of by a soldier , and he was at once ushered into the presence of the Lieutenant-Governor .