twelve
o’clock
It had moved softly enough , but when it ceased to crunch the snow , the silence was as startling as if some great noise had been replaced by perfect stillness . ` This is the place , gentlemen , ' said the driver , dismounting from his horse , and knocking at the door of a little inn . ` Halloa ! Past twelve o'clock is the dead of night here . ' The knocking was loud and long , but it failed to rouse the drowsy inmates . All continued dark and silent as before . They fell back a little , and looked up at the windows , which were mere black patches in the whitened house front .