midnight
Gleason himself , as we have seen , had taken prompt measures to satisfy himself as to the identity of the serenader . His next step was to institute inquiries as to just what was meant by these demonstrations on part of the sergeant . Insidious questions were propounded to Mrs. Stannard , Mrs. Truscott , and Miss Sanford , only to mystify him the more . They would say nothing to enlighten him ; but he plainly saw that each one of the three was conscious that Wolf was the midnight visitor , and that two of the three were in possession of knowledge with regard to the mysterious soldier which he could not fathom . He took to studying Wolf ; sent for him frequently ; had long talks with him ostensibly as to his duties with recruits , but began to `` draw him out '' as to his past . All he could learn was that he had come to this country determined to enlist , had served a few months with Truscott at the Point , and had secured a transfer because he wanted active service . He declined to tell what had been his connections or his life before coming to our shores , but he was evidently a man of education and refinement ; he was an admirable horseman , swordsman , and drill-master ; he had evidently been trained for the military profession .