midnight
Afterwards , however , she recovered her speech , and , being somewhat restored by a cordial , conversed for a considerable time , on the subject of her estates in France , with clearness and precision . She directed her niece where to find some papers relative to them , which she had hitherto concealed from the search of Montoni , and earnestly charged her never to suffer these papers to escape her . Soon after this conversation , Madame Montoni sunk into a dose , and continued slumbering , till evening , when she seemed better than she had been since her removal from the turret . Emily never left her , for a moment , till long after midnight , and even then would not have quitted the room , had not her aunt entreated , that she would retire to rest . She then obeyed , the more willingly , because her patient appeared somewhat recruited by sleep ; and , giving Annette the same injunction , as on the preceding night , she withdrew to her own apartment . But her spirits were wakeful and agitated , and , finding it impossible to sleep , she determined to watch , once more , for the mysterious appearance , that had so much interested and alarmed her . It was now the second watch of the night , and about the time when the figure had before appeared .