midnight before
About the same hour of night that the letter was put into the hands of Mynheer Krause , a packet was brought up to Lord Albemarle , who was playing a game of put with his Grace the Duke of Portland ; at that time put was a most fashionable game ; but games are like garments , as they become old they are cast off , and handed down to the servants . The outside of the despatch was marked `` To Lord Albemarle 's own hands . Immediate and most important . '' It appeared , however , as if the two noble lords considered the game of put as more important and immediate , for they finished it without looking at the packet in question , and it was midnight before they threw up the cards . After which , Lord Albemarle went to a side table , apart from the rest of the company , and broke the seals . It was a letter with enclosures , and ran as follows : `` MY LORD ALBEMARLE , `` Although your political enemy , I do justice to your merits , and to prove my opinion of you , address to you this letter , the object of which is to save your government from the disgrace of injuring a worthy man , and a staunch supporter , to expose the villany of a coward and a scoundrel . When I state that my name is Ramsay , you may at once be satisfied that , before this comes to your hands , I am out of your reach .