nine o'clock
He kept in hiding somewhere , and their efforts were vain . Search of his luggage at the lodging-house revealed the fact that he had a lot of new shirts , underwear , etc. , but not a paper or mark that revealed his identity . The proprietor said the man had given the name of Spence , but he heard two of the sailors call him Sackett . The following evening the general and his staff dined at the beautiful home of one of the old and wealthy residents , and towards nine o'clock Mr. Stuyvesant asked his general 's permission to withdraw , as he had two calls to make before returning aboard ship . They were to sail at dawn . Bidding good-night and good-by to his charming hostess , and declining the hospitable offer of a post-prandial `` peg '' from her genial lord , the young officer stepped blithely away down the moonlit avenue . It was a beautiful summer night .