midnight
Raleigh was off with Freddie , who had been in at the death , and was well `` blooded . '' Hansom to Paddington in the small hours ; creep , creep , creep , through the raw morning mist , puff , whistle , broad gauge , and they had vanished . Raleigh was a man of his age ; he lost not a moment ; having got the glory , the next thing was to elude the responsibility ; and , in short , he slipped out of sight till the hue-and-cry was over , and the excitement of the campaign had subsided . In case anyone should suppose I approve of midnight battle , I may as well label the account at once : `` This is a goak . '' I do _ not _ approve of brawls at the bar , but I have set myself the task to describe a bit of human life exactly as it really is , and I can assure you as a honest fact that Raleigh by that lucky knock became a very great man indeed among people as they really are . People as they really are , are not all Greek scholars . As I do n't wish you to look down upon poor Raleigh too much because he smoked a cutty , and hit a fellow twice as big as himself , and lent his money , and made bets , and drank whiskey , and was altogether wicked , I may as well tell you something in his favour : He was a hero to his valet .