midnight
There was none of that organization , that stern discipline , which at Rome regulated every step , and ordained every movement of their mighty host . `` This , '' muttered he to himself , `` is an army without field-officers . Their guerilla notions must be henceforth exchanged for habits of military obedience . Little think they that their future General is now the solitary pedestrian of a lonely road at midnight . '' The recurrence to himself and his own fortunes was one of those spells which seemed to possess an almost magical influence over him . From long dwelling on the theme , he had grown to believe that he was destined by Heaven for the advancement , if not the actual triumph , of the great cause of the Church ; and that he , whose origin was obscure and ignoble , could now sit down at the council of the Princes of the Faith , and be heard , as one whose words were commands , was always sufficient evidence that he was reserved by fate for high achievements . Under the spell of this conviction he soon rallied from his late dejection , and his uplifted head and proud gait now showed the ambitious workings of his heart .