midnight
said Everett . They had then come up the greater part of the length of the Birdcage Walk , and the lights at Storey 's Gate were just visible , but the road on which they were then walking was very dark . The trees were black over their head , and not a step was heard near them . At this time it was just midnight . Now , certainly , among the faults which might be justly attributed to Lopez , personal cowardice could not be reckoned . On this evening he had twice spoken of being afraid , but the fear had simply been that which ordinary caution indicates ; and his object had been that of hindering Wharton in the first place from coming into the park , and then of getting him out of it as quickly as possible . `` Come along , '' said Lopez .