midnight
What proved the hardest problem for the garrison to solve was the fact that , while Mr. Hayne kept several of his old associates at a distance , he had openly offered his hand to Rayner . This was something the Riflers could not account for . The intensity of his feeling at the time of the court-martial none could forget : the vehemence of his denunciation of the captain was still fresh in the memory of those who heard it . Then there were all those years in which Rayner had continued to crowd him to the wall ; and finally there was the almost tragic episode of Buxton 's midnight visitation , in which Rayner , willingly or not , had been in attendance . Was it not odd that in the face of all these considerations the first man to whom Mr. Hayne should have offered his hand was Captain Rayner ? Odd indeed ! But then only one or two were made acquainted with the full particulars of Clancy 's confession , and none had heard Nellie Travers 's request .