midnight
With timid curiosity she then explored every corner with the lamp and came upon nothing suspicious . Finally she returned to the guest room , locked the door of that also and placed the carriage lamp on the table , turning its shade towards the sleeping old man so that he might not be awakened by the glare of the lamp ; and there she remained all alone , watching in the _ csárdá _ of the desolate _ puszta _ , patiently waiting for the night to pass over her homeless head . So patient was she that only once did she take her watch from her bosom to see what the time was . * * * * * It was now past midnight . She began to calculate how long it would take the coachman to get to Oroshaza and how much time he would require to reach this place . If he had got horses at once he ought to be near now . A short time afterwards she heard the tread of horses ' feet in the courtyard .