eight o'clock sharp
`` ` Yes , ' he replied ; ` there ought to be a secret force in Washington and elsewhere , until the reconstruction of the rebel States is complete . ' `` I said no more to him at this time on the subject . Gen. Anderson said he would call and see the General of the Army in a day or so , as he had only visited him occasionally since in Washington , but that his calls were always made very pleasant . `` At eight o'clock sharp I went to the War Office and found the Secretary and the Chief of Staff to the General waiting for me . We at once entered into conversation on the subject of the conspiracy . I made the same suggestion that Gen. Anderson had intimated to me , which was at once discussed and thought to be a good proposition . But how could it be done without the whole matter being made public in some way ?