twelve o’clock at night
`` Where did you see him , Annette ? '' rejoined Emily , looking round her , and turning back towards the château . `` It was not I that saw him , madam , it was Jean the gardener . It was twelve o'clock at night , and , as he was coming across the court to go the back way into the house , what should he see -- but somebody walking in the avenue , that fronts the garden gate ! So , with that , Jean guessed how it was , and he went into the house for his gun . '' `` His gun ! '' exclaimed Emily .