midnight
I forget , while I now speak , that which I am ; for I could not speak thus if I remembered it . I send you to Dalton , to tell him , that in humble , most humble , imitation of the blessed God , whose unworthy servant I am , I say that ` though , ' in the eyes of the world , ` his sins be as scarlet , they shall be as wool ; ' they shall be blotted from my memory , and I will stretch forth my right hand to save and not to punish ; so much as regards himself , I will not hint at his misdeeds , provided that -- '' he stopped abruptly , and fixed his eye upon the timepiece that was set over the chimney -- a huge heavy iron machine , that one would fancy even Time found it difficult to deal with . `` You see the hour -- the hand is on the stroke of nine : provided that , before that same hand rests upon the single figure which heralds in the morning , the Preacher , the Jewess , himself and his daughter are within this room -- provided they are here I will seal his pardon : he shall go forth , or remain , a free subject of the Commonwealth . And more than this , my soldiers sleep till midnight , so that men , _ all _ men may travel in safety , -- in safety _ by land _ , I mean ; for if the slightest attempt be made to rid the harbour of the pestilential vessel , whose crew keep such careful , or rather such prudent , watch upon her deck , if that the night were dark as blackness itself , there are eyes that see , and hands that avenge ! The ship must not remain unpunished ; of her , justice _ shall _ have its due . Your Buccaneer should think of this , and bless the God that has made us merciful . '' `` The Fire-fly , to be towed into Chatham and about , and pointed at by the cowardly land-lubbers , as Hugh Dalton 's fine vessel !