midnight
He had entire confidence in Sebek and the upper housekeeper , and the emperor himself would remit the duties of hostess to a sick woman . Once , at any rate , she would surely allow the illustrious guests to pay their respects to her , -- but even this Neforis refused It would be quite enough if her visitors received messages and greetings daily in her name , with offerings of choice fruit and flowers , and on the last day some costly gift . Orion thought this proposal quite worthy of them both , and presently drove off behind his Pannonians to the hostelry . By the harbor he met the captain of the boat he had hired ; to him he held up two fingers , and the boatman signified by repeated nodding that he had understood the meaning of this signal : `` Be ready at two hours before midnight . '' The sight of this weather-beaten pilot , and the prospect of making some return to his noble friends for all their kindness , cheered Orion greatly ; and though he regretted being obliged to leave these guests of all others , the perils that lay before him reasserted their charm . He could surely win over the abbess in the course of the voyage , and Paula might be brought to reason , perhaps , this very evening . Justinus and his wife were Melchites , and he knew that both these friends -- for whom he had a particular regard -- would be enchanted with his scheme if he took them into his confidence .