nearly four o'clock
He had given his word to the captain -- more , he had given his youthful FAITH . And , to his credit , he never swerved again . It seemed to him , too , in his youthful superstition , as he looked at the abandoned portmanteau , that he had again to take up his burden -- his `` trust . '' It was nearly four o'clock when the spell was broken . A large packet , bearing the printed address of a London and American bank , was brought to him by a special messenger ; but the written direction was in the captain 's hand . Randolph tore it open . It contained one or two inclosures , which he hastily put aside for the letter , two pages of foolscap , which he read breathlessly : -- DEAR TRENT , -- Do n't worry your head if I have slipped my cable without telling you .