noon
V -- spent the whole of the night in reading what the black portfolio and Hubert 's packet contained . Both agreed in all circumstantial particulars , and suggested naturally what further steps were to be taken . On arriving at K -- , V -- immediately repaired to Freiherr Hubert von R -- , who received him with ill-mannered pride . But the remarkable result of the interview , which began at noon and lasted on without interruption until late at night , was that the next day the Freiherr made a declaration before the court to the effect that he acknowledged the claimant to be , agreeably to his father 's will , the son of Wolfgang von R -- , eldest son of Freiherr Roderick von R -- , and begotten in lawful wedlock with Mdlle . Julia de St. Val , and furthermore acknowledged him as rightful and legitimate heir to the entail . On leaving the court he found his carriage , with post-horses , standing before the door ; he stepped in and was driven off at a rapid rate , leaving his mother and his sister behind him . They would perhaps never see him again , he wrote , along with other perplexing statements .