midnight
There he lay for some time in as great a fright , I suppose -- '' `` As you were in , '' interrupted Annette , `` when you sat up so boldly to watch by yourself . '' `` Aye , '' said Ludovico , `` in as great a fright as he ever made anybody else suffer ; and presently the housekeeper and some other person came up to the bed , when he , thinking they were going to examine it , bethought him , that his only chance of escaping detection , was by terrifying them ; so he lifted up the counterpane , but that did not do , till he raised his face above it , and then they both set off , he said , as if they had seen the devil , and he got out of the rooms undiscovered . '' Emily could not forbear smiling at this explanation of the deception , which had given her so much superstitious terror , and was surprised , that she could have suffered herself to be thus alarmed , till she considered , that , when the mind has once begun to yield to the weakness of superstition , trifles impress it with the force of conviction . Still , however , she remembered with awe the mysterious music , which had been heard , at midnight , near Château-le-Blanc , and she asked Ludovico if he could give any explanation of it ; but he could not . `` I only know , madam , '' he added , `` that it did not belong to the pirates , for I have heard them laugh about it , and say , they believed the devil was in league with them there . '' `` Yes , I will answer for it he was , '' said Annette , her countenance brightening , `` I was sure all along , that he or his spirits had something to do with the north apartments , and now you see , madam , I am right at last . '' `` It can not be denied , that his spirits were very busy in that part of the château , '' replied Emily , smiling .