midnight
Legal death had taken place already ; the unity of life and consciousness existed no more ; the seal was defaced ; they could no longer sign a document except as individuals . Now the _ rigor mortis _ would set in little by little until somatic death too had been consummated , and the units which had made up the organism had ceased to bear any relation one to the other . But until after Christmas there was no further development ; and the Feast was observed as usual , and with the full complement of monks . At the midnight mass there was a larger congregation than for many months , and the confessions and communions also slightly increased . It was a symptom , as Chris very plainly perceived , of the manner in which the shadow of the King reached even to the remotest details of the life of the country . The priory was now , as it were , enveloped in the royal protection , and the people responded accordingly . There had come no hint from headquarters as to the ultimate fate of the house ; and some even began to hope that the half-promise of a re-foundation would be fulfilled .