midnight
He was quiet , seeming often to wish to speak , but pausing before the act , never getting beyond a stumbling aho ! I greeted him cheerfully enough . After making a little toilette , I drank my coffee with relish . At last I asked Gabord if no word had come to the citadel for me ; and he said , none at all , nothing save a message from the Governor , before midnight , ordering certain matters . No more was said , until , turning to the door , he told me he would return to fetch me forth in a few minutes . But when halfway out he suddenly wheeled , came back , and blurted out , `` If you and I could only fight it out , m ` sieu ' ! 'T is ill for a gentleman and a soldier to die without thrust or parry . ''