2 a.m.
With dainty care he finished sealing the envelope , then , picking up a telephone transmitter , he snapped `` Admiralty ! '' In about a minute he was connected , and to my astonishment I realized that he was talking to the duty captain of the operations department in Berlin . His words chilled my heart , for he said : `` Commodore speaking ! U. 39 sails at 2 a.m. for operation F.Q.H. -- Repeat . '' His words were apparently repeated to his satisfaction , for while I was vainly endeavouring to convince myself that I was unconnected with the sailing of U. 39 , he banged the receiver into place -LRB- Old Man Max does everything in bangs -RRB- and snapped at me . `` You Lieutenant Von Schenk ? '' I admitted I was , and then heard this disgusting news .