midnight
Captain Will was planning to `` size up his man '' still further , in an evening 's conversation . As the weeks and months went on the results of Guilford Duncan 's work completely justified the confident assertion he had made to Captain Hallam that _ a capable man can learn anything if he really wants to _ . He rapidly familiarized himself with the technicalities , as well as with the methods and broad principles of business . He sat up till midnight for many nights in succession , in order to learn from the head bookkeeper the rather scant mysteries of bookkeeping . By observing the gaugers who measured coal barges to determine their contents , he quickly acquired skill in doing that . It was so with everything . He was determined to master every art and mystery that in anywise pertained to business , whether the skill in question was or was not one that he was ever likely to need or to practice .