midnight
said her more charitable companion . They pushed their own window up once more , and watched from behind the curtains . For a long time all was silent within the house . The light still stood motionless as though Mrs. Westmacott remained rigidly in the one position , while from time to time a shadow passed in front of it to show that her midnight visitor was pacing up and down in front of her . Once they saw his outline clearly , with his hands outstretched as if in appeal or entreaty . Then suddenly there was a dull sound , a cry , the noise of a fall , the taper was extinguished , and a dark figure fled in the moonlight , rushed across the garden , and vanished amid the shrubs at the farther side . Then only did the two old ladies understand that they had looked on whilst a tragedy had been enacted .