midnight
It was necessary to ascend , to save the science and himself from becoming a public jest . It was at Boulogne . No one helped him to inflate his balloon . `` He rose at midnight , accompanied by Andreoli and Grossetti . The balloon mounted slowly , for it had been perforated by the rain , and the gas was leaking out . The three intrepid aeronauts could only observe the state of the barometer by aid of a dark lantern . Zambecarri had eaten nothing for twenty-four hours .