Midnight
By the time he reached home it was quite late . There was no moon , but the heavens were bright with stars . He stood outside for a few moments listening to the sound of voices within , and then , moved perhaps by the quiet beauty of the night , strolled down to the river and stood watching the lights of passing craft . Midnight sounded in the distance as he walked back . The lamp was still burning , but the room was empty . He closed the door softly behind him , and stood eying , with some uneasiness , a large and untidy brown-paper parcel that stood in the centre of the table . From the crumpled appearance of the paper and the clumsily tied knots it had the appearance of having been opened and fastened up again by unskilled hands .