midnight
`` Miss Dalrymple is not to know . '' `` I understand , '' said Francois quickly . And going out stealthily , he closed and locked the door behind him . The midnight hour drew near , and , above deck , tranquillity reigned . It was , however , the comparative quiet that follows a storm . A threatening day had culminated in a fierce tropical downpour -- a cloud-burst -- when the very heavens had seemed to open . The _ Nevski _ , steaming forward at half speed , had come almost to a stop ; struck by the masses of water , she had fairly staggered beneath the impact .