midnight
He always remains in the background . ' In the tents of Kedar men sleep as sound as those who lie on soft pillows , and Conyngham was late astir the next morning . Sir John Pleydell was , it transpired , already at his breakfast , and had ordered his carriage for an early hour to take the road to Talavera . It was thus evident that Sir John knew nothing of the arrival of his fellow-countryman at midnight . The cold face of the great lawyer wore a look of satisfaction as he sat at a small table in the patio of the hotel and drank his coffee . Conyngham watched him for a moment from the balcony of the courtyard , himself unseen , while Concepçion stood within his master 's bedroom , and rubbed his brown hands together in anticipation of a dramatic moment . Conyngham passed down the stone steps and crossed the patio with a gay smile .