midnight
He encouraged his valet to tell him what they said of him . Every one had invented some romance about the yacht 's visitor ; no one supposed him to be of less than noble birth . The cook had a theory that he was some prince who had got into trouble with his father . The secrecy with which he had been brought on board at midnight , his scarcely healed wound , the disguise of a fisherman 's dress , were all regarded as positive proofs of some singular and romantic adventure . On board `` The Lapwing '' Jan was the central point of every man 's interest and speculations . And at this time , even Lord Lynne was a little in the dark regarding Jan. . Dr. Balloch had only spoken of him as a young man going to ruin for want of some friends .