midnight
The bed , however , was empty , and no chair was occupied ; but on a settle in a corner beside an unused fireplace sat a man , now with hands clasped between his knees , again with arms folded across his breast ; but with his head always in a listening attitude . The whole figure suggested suspense , vigilance and preparedness . The man had taken off his boots and stockings , and his bare feet seemed to grip the floor ; also the sleeves of his jacket were rolled up a little . It was not a figure you would wish to see in your room at midnight unasked . Once or twice he sighed heavily , as he listened to the river slishing past and looked out to the sparkle of the skies . It was as though the infinite had drawn near to the man , or else that the man had drawn near to the infinite . Now and again he brought his fists down on his knees with a savage , though noiseless , force .