midnight
`` He is a hero ! a hero ! '' he cried , a theme of which he was never tired of ringing the changes ; `` and we are only like weak , silly women , compared with this European ! '' As to the president , after having suggested to the visitors it was time to retire , he re-entered the passenger 's cabin , and remained there till the bell of the steamer made it midnight . But then the two rivals in popularity shook hands heartily and parted on terms of intimate friendship . On the following day Barbicane , fearing that indiscreet questions might be put to Michel Ardan , was desirous of reducing the number of the audience to a few of the initiated , his own colleagues for instance . He might as well have tried to check the Falls of Niagara !