midnight
The night roared about them and the waters seemed to divide beneath their keel . Through the tumult Odo shouted to the boatmen to try to make some harbour north of Peschiera . They shouted back that they must go where the wind willed and bless the saints if they made any harbour at all ; and Odo saw that Peschiera was their destiny . It was past midnight when they set foot on shore . The rain still fell in torrents and they could hardly grope their way up the steps of the landing-stage . Odo 's first concern was to avoid the inn ; but the boatmen , exhausted by their efforts and impatient to be under shelter , could not be bribed to seek out at that hour another lodging for the travellers . Odo dared not expose Fulvia longer to the storm , and reluctantly they turned toward the inn , trusting that at that hour their coming would attract little notice .