midnight before
`` We are to be friends , then ? '' he asked quietly . `` Of course , '' she smiled at him . Toward six of the afternoon a trifling mishap to the motor delayed them for two hours , and it was long after midnight before they reached Brod and learned that the train of the Archduke had left within the hour . This was a terrible disappointment , which seemed to menace the success of their venture . But Captain Goritz determined to go on as rapidly as possible , trusting to reach their destination before the royal party left its train , hoping that the sight of Countess Strahni by the Duchess would be sufficient to let down any official barriers which might be interposed . But an unforeseen difficulty at Brod still further delayed them , a difficulty which required all of the ingenuity of Captain Goritz to get them once more upon their way .