eight
o'clock
It will be useless to approach me with any other . '' Next morning the visitors waited in vain for the appearance of Judge Ould to convey them once more into the Union lines . Visions of a long term in prison , to say nothing of a possible hang-man 's noose , began to float before their excited fancy . They had expected the Judge at eight o'clock . It was three in the afternoon when he entered with the laconic remark : `` Well , gentlemen , if you are ready , we 'll walk around to Libby Prison . '' Certain of their doom , the two men rose and spoke in concert : `` We are ready . '' They followed the Judge downstairs and found the same coal black driver with the rickety team that had brought them into Richmond .