midnight
He declared himself nevertheless much refreshed by his visit to Dr. Shrapnel . ` We shall have to sleep tonight in this unhallowed town , but I need n't be off to Holdesbury in the morning ; I 've done my business . I shall write to the baron to-night , and we can cross the water to-morrow in time for operations . ' The letter to Mr. Romfrey was composed before midnight . It was a long one , and when he had finished it , Cecil remembered that the act of composition had been assisted by a cigar in his mouth , and Mr. Romfrey detested the smell of tobacco . There was nothing to be done but to write the letter over again , somewhat more briefly : it ran thus : ` Thinking to kill two birds at a blow , I went yesterday with Palmet after the dinner at this place to Shrapnel 's house , where , as I heard , I stood a chance of catching friend Nevil . The young person living under the man 's protection was absent , and so was the `` poor dear commander , '' perhaps attending on his bull .