midnight
`` He hath gone away with a pack of stage-playing rascals and vagabonds , whither no man knoweth . '' Taking the heavy Bible down from the shelf , he lit a rushlight at the fire , although it was still broad daylight , and sat there with the great book open in his lap until the sun went down and the chill night wind crept in along the floor ; yet he could not read a single word and never turned a page . Rat-a-tat-tat at the first dim hint of dawn went the chamberlain 's knuckles upon the door . To Nick it seemed scarce midnight yet , so sound had been his sleep . Master Carew having gotten into his high-topped riding-boots with a great puffing and tugging , they washed their faces at the inn-yard pump by the smoky light of the hostler 's lantern , and then in a subdued , half-wakened way made a hearty breakfast off the fragments of the last night 's feast . Part of the remaining cold meat , cheese , and cakes Carew stowed in his leather pouch . The rest he left in the lap of a beggar sleeping beside the door .