midnight
I almost thought , once or twice , they 'd have been too much for us with their kindness ! ' They had striven , all the previous day , to rescue Barnaby from his impending fate . Failing in their attempts , in the first quarter to which they addressed themselves , they renewed them in another . Failing there , likewise , they began afresh at midnight ; and made their way , not only to the judge and jury who had tried him , but to men of influence at court , to the young Prince of Wales , and even to the ante-chamber of the King himself . Successful , at last , in awakening an interest in his favour , and an inclination to inquire more dispassionately into his case , they had had an interview with the minister , in his bed , so late as eight o'clock that morning . The result of a searching inquiry -LRB- in which they , who had known the poor fellow from his childhood , did other good service , besides bringing it about -RRB- was , that between eleven and twelve o'clock , a free pardon to Barnaby Rudge was made out and signed , and entrusted to a horse-soldier for instant conveyance to the place of execution . This courier reached the spot just as the cart appeared in sight ; and Barnaby being carried back to jail , Mr Haredale , assured that all was safe , had gone straight from Bloomsbury Square to the Golden Key , leaving to Gabriel the grateful task of bringing him home in triumph .