nearly midnight
said Pilar . Soon we had left the gold and crimson glow of the streets , and were out in the blue night . Over the Puente de Toledo we passed , and on along a broad white road . Pilar had said that we would reach our destination in half an hour ; but her enthusiasm ran faster than our horses ; and it was nearly midnight when we stopped in front of a tall archway that glimmered in the dark . A clanging bell had to be pulled , and was echoed by a musical baying of many dogs . `` The darlings ! '' exclaimed Pilar .