midnight
Here he resolved to abide Luke 's coming . The reader knows what probability there was of his expectations being realized . For a while he paced the tomb , wrapped in gloomy meditation , and pondering , it might be , upon the result of Luke 's expedition , and the fulfilment of his own dark schemes , scowling from time to time beneath his bent eyebrows , counting the grim array of coffins , and noticing , with something like satisfaction , that the shell which contained the remains of his daughter had been restored to its former position . He then bethought him of Father Checkley 's midnight intrusion upon his conference with Luke , and their apprehension of a supernatural visitation , and his curiosity was stimulated to ascertain by what means the priest had gained admission to the spot unperceived and unheard . He resolved to sound the floor , and see whether any secret entrance existed ; and hollowly and dully did the hard flagging return the stroke of his heel as he pursued his scrutiny . At length the metallic ringing of an iron plate , immediately behind the marble effigy of Sir Ranulph , resolved the point . There it was that the priest had found access to the vault ; but Alan 's disappointment was excessive , when he discovered that the plate was fastened on the underside , and all communication thence with the churchyard , or to wherever else it might conduct him , cut off : but the present was not the season for further investigation , and tolerably pleased with the discovery he had already made , he returned to his silent march round the sepulchre .