midnight
He continued motionless as before ; his grave and mournful looks constantly fixed upon the new-married couple ; his appearance struck every one with terror . The young countess alone , who found the transcript of her own sorrow in the fact of the stranger , beheld with a melancholy satisfaction the only object that seemed to understand and sympathize in her sufferings . The crowd insensibly diminished . It was past midnight ; the music became fainter and more languid ; the tapers grew dim , and many of them went out . The conversation , declining by degrees , lost itself at last in secret murmurs , and the faintly illuminated hall was nearly deserted . The monk , in the meantime , continued motionless , with the same grave and mournful look still fixed on the new-married couple . The company at length rose from the table ; the guests dispersed ; the family assembled in a separate group , and the monk , though uninvited , continued near them .