midnight
`` Away ! '' cried Herne in a menacing tone . Terrified by the formidable looks and gestures of the demon , the poor girl offered no resistance , and her grandfather drew her into the opening , which was immediately closed after her . About an hour after this , and when it was near upon the stroke of midnight , the arquebusier who had admitted the tall stranger to the dungeon , and who had momentarily expected his coming forth , opened the door to see what was going forward . Great was his astonishment to find the cell empty ! After looking around in bewilderment , he rushed to the chamber above , to tell his comrades what had happened . `` This is clearly the work of the fiend , '' said Shoreditch ; `` it is useless to strive against him . ''