midnight
It appeared that the nibble , which had seemed but the preliminary to swallowing the bait , was after all no more than a nibble ; that the fish had merely nosed the worm and swum away . In the meantime , while eaten up by the suspense of this inaction , she was witness to activity of the most strenuous variety . Never had she seen a man spring up into favour as did Harrison Blake . His campaign meetings were resumed the very night of Bruce 's conviction ; the city crowded to them ; the Blake Marching Club tramped the streets till midnight , with flaming torches , rousing the enthusiasm of the people with their shouts and campaign songs ; and wherever Blake appeared upon the platform he was greeted by an uproar , and even when he appeared by daylight , when men 's spirits are more sedate , his progress through the streets was a series of miniature ovations . As for Bruce , Katherine saw his power and position crumble so swiftly that she could hardly see them disappear . The structure of a tremendous future had stood one moment imposingly before her eyes . Presto , and it was no more !