Midnight
-- Be very sure , Miss Kate ! '' `` I 'll watch to-night . Perhaps the poor little fool will try to slip off again . '' * * * * * Midnight found the Madam seated at her dark window , dressed and fully prepared for any emergency -- except that she happened to be asleep . Black coffee had not been sufficient to offset the treacherously soothing effect of a rain-laden breeze full of soft earth-odors , that blew across her eyelids . She might have slept there placidly till morning , had not a clap of thunder awakened her with a start . The night had become very tense and still .