midnight
It was with no little anxiety that he asked for the banker at the appointed hour , and was shown into an anteroom , with the announcement : `` Mr. Hilliard is busy ; he wishes you to wait . '' Inside the glass partition Boyd heard a woman 's voice and Hilliard 's laughter . He took some comfort in the thought that the banker was in a good-humor , at least ; but , being too nervous to sit still , he stood at the window , gazing with vacant eyes at the busy street crowds . Facing him , across the way , was a bulletin-board in front of a newspaper office ; and , after a time , he noted idly among its various items of information the announcement that the mail steamer _ Queen _ had arrived at midnight from Skagway . He wondered why Cherry had not written . Surely she must be anxious to know his progress . He should have advised her of his whereabouts .