midnight
To your beds , gentlemen , and a good night to you ! '' He was still fully armed , so that it was unsafe to attack him . And he saw them up the spiral stairs that led from the hall , and watched them enter the narrow dens that served them as sleeping rooms , where many a curse was uttered on the watchfulness of the wizard Knight . At the turn of midnight , Le Borgne Basque crept forth , in some hope that there might be an opportunity of fulfilling his designs , and earning the reward promised him both by Clarenham and the French . But he had not descended far before a red gleam of torchlight was seen on the dark stairs , and , ere he could retreat , the black head and dark eyes of Gaston appeared , glancing with mischievous amusement , as he said , in his gay voice , `` You are on the alert , my old comrade . You have not forgotten your former habits when in command here . But Sir Eustace intrusts the care of changing the guard to none but me ; so I will not trouble you to disturb yourself another night . ''