midnight
The woods , dark guarding phalanxes of tall oaks and firs , seemed marshalled on the slopes for its defence . Angelot came down upon it by the old steep lane , having slipped across from the ruined farm to a vineyard , along by a tall hedge into another wood of low scrub and bracken , then into the road a hundred yards above the house . Before he reached it he heard the horses kicking in the stable , then a low bark from the nearest dog which he answered by softly whistling a familiar tune . In consequence of this all the dogs about the place came running to meet him , softly patting over the sand , and it was on this group , standing under her window in the midnight stillness , that Riette looked out a few minutes later . Something woke her , she did not know what , but this little watcher 's sleep was always of the lightest , and she had not long fallen asleep , her eyelashes still wet with tears for Angelot . The window creaked as she opened it , leaning out into the moonlight . `` Is it you , my Ange ?