night about ten o'clock
It thus happened that , although I contrived to worry the dockyard superintendent into putting a few shipwrights aboard the _ Diane _ , three weeks passed , and still the brigantine was very far from being ready for sea . During this time I made my headquarters at `` Mammy '' Wilkinson 's hotel in Kingston , -- that being the hotel especially affected by navy men , -- although I was seldom there , the planters and big-wigs of the island generally proving wonderfully hospitable , and literally overwhelming me with invitations to take up my abode with them . But about the time that I have mentioned it happened that certain alterations were being effected aboard the brigantine , which I was especially anxious to have carried out according to my own ideas ; I therefore spent the whole of the day , for several days in succession , at the dockyard , going up to Kingston at night , and sleeping at the hotel . It was during this interval that , one night about ten o'clock , a negro presented himself at the hotel , inquiring for me ; and upon my making my appearance in the entrance-hall , the fellow -- a full-blooded African , dressed very neatly in a white shirt and white duck trousers , both scrupulously clean , for a wonder -- approached me , and , ducking his head respectfully , inquired -- `` You Massa Courtenay , sar , cap'n ob de man-o ' - war schoonah _ Tern _ ? '' `` Well , yes , '' I replied , `` my name is Courtenay , and I commanded the _ Tern _ up to the time of her being paid off ; so I suppose I may fairly assume that I am the individual you have been inquiring for . What is it you want with me ? '' `` You know a genterman , nam 'd Lindsay , sar ? ''