midnight
She shied like a horse on the brink of a precipice when the thought of Le Gardeur intruded itself . Rising suddenly , she bade La Corriveau be gone about her business , lest she should be tempted to change her mind . La Corriveau laughed at the last struggle of dying conscience , and bade Angélique go to bed . It was two hours past midnight , and she would bid Fanchon let her depart to the house of an old crone in the city who would give her a bed and a blessing in the devil 's name . Angélique , weary and agitated , bade her be gone in the devil 's name , if she preferred a curse to a blessing . The witch , with a mocking laugh , rose and took her departure for the night . Fanchon , weary of waiting , had fallen asleep .