about three hours after midnight
Permit me to introduce myself . I am the Sieur de la Tournoire , the person named in that order . '' With which I politely handed him the pass that I had forced from La Chatre , which I had for a time forgotten . It was about three hours after midnight , and the moon was not yet very low . The captain , taken by surprise in several respects , mechanically grasped the document and read it . `` It is a -- a pass , '' he said , presently , staring at it and at me in a bewildered manner . `` As you see , for myself and all my company , '' said I ; `` signed by M. de la Chatre . ''