one o'clock
I 'm a desperate man ! '' `` I was just going , '' replied the governor . `` I 'm not up to parties ; but lead off , if it 's out of this . '' It was one o'clock when the governor left Galt 's house , and turning into Grace Street strolled leisurely in the direction of the Capitol Square . The night was sharp with frost and a rising wind drove the shadows on the pavement against darkened house-fronts , while behind a far-off church spire , a wizened moon shivered through a thin cloud . On the silence came the sound of fire bells ringing in the distance . The bronze Washington in the deserted square shone silver beneath the moonlight , and down the frozen slopes the trees stretched out stiffened limbs .