midnight
`` Madam , '' responded Sir Roger humbly ; `` If I may dare to say so to your Majesty , it is not possible to a noble woman to be jealous of a man 's mere humours of desire ! But of Love -- Love , the crown , the glory and supremacy of life , -- who , with a human heart and human blood , would not be jealous ? Who would not give kingdoms , thrones , ay , Heaven itself , if it were not in itself Heaven , for its rapturous oblivion of sorrow , and its full measure of joy ! '' A dead silence fell between them , only disturbed by a small silver chime in the distance , striking midnight . The Queen again seated herself , and drew her book towards her . Then raising her lovely unfathomable eyes , she looked at the tall stately figure of the man before her with a slight touch of pity and pathos . `` Possibly you may be right , '' she said slowly , `` Possibly wrong !