nearly twelve o'clock
It may be all very well to be lenient , when one is dealing with a European enemy ; but magnanimity does not pay when you have to do with Orientals , who do n't care a rap for treaty engagements , and who always regard concessions as being simply a proof of weakness . `` There would not be half the difficulty in annexing Burma that there would be , in the case of a large province in India ; for all the towns , and most even of their villages , lie on rivers , and a couple of dozen gunboats would suffice to keep the whole country in order . You will see that that is what we shall have to do , some day ; but it will cost us two or three expeditions to do what might just as well be done , now . '' `` Well , uncle , it is nearly twelve o'clock and , as I shall be on duty at six , I think I had better be going . I wish that you could have stayed for another two or three days , and paid a visit to the pagoda and camps . I am very glad that I have had a sight of you again , though it 's a very short one . '' `` I should be glad to stay another day or two , Stanley ; but it is really of importance for me to get down to Ramgur , as soon as I can , and send Johnson off with the cattle ; for I want to set about buying the herds for the other column , as quickly as possible .