midnight
An hour afterward a messenger brought word that General Cromwell wished to see Colonel Furness . After his breakfast Harry had at once gone out and purchased clothes suitable to a country gentleman ; in these he proceeded to the general , and was at once shown up to his room . `` Your news was trustworthy , Colonel Furness , and Oliver Cromwell owes his life to you . Soon after midnight one of the serving wenches opened the back door , and eight men entered . Had no watch been set , they would doubtless have reached my room unobserved , by the staircase which leads from that part of the house . As it was , I had a guard in waiting , and when the men were fairly inside they fell upon them . The soldiers were too quick with them , being hot at the plot which was intended against my life , and all were killed , together with the wench who admitted them , who was stabbed by one of the men at the first alarm , thinking doubtless she had betrayed them .