About midnight
Discipline was lost ; the army disbanded itself . Each individual , before a part of a great whole moving only in unison with others , now became resolved into the unit nature had made him , and thought of himself only . They stole off at first by ones and twos , then in larger companies , until , unimpeded by the officers , whole battalions sought the road that led to Macedonia . About midnight I returned to the palace and sought Raymond ; he was alone , and apparently composed ; such composure , at least , was his as is inspired by a resolve to adhere to a certain line of conduct . He heard my account of the self-dissolution of the army with calmness , and then said , `` You know , Verney , my fixed determination not to quit this place , until in the light of day Stamboul is confessedly ours . If the men I have about me shrink from following me , others , more courageous , are to be found . Go you before break of day , bear these dispatches to Karazza , add to them your own entreaties that he send me his marines and naval force ; if I can get but one regiment to second me , the rest would follow of course .