midnight
On the one side duty , tradition , her dead brother , her father -- above all , her religion and the oath she had sworn before God ; on the other justice and honour , a case of right and wrong , honesty and pity . How she fought with these powers now ! She fought with them , struggled with them on her knees . She tried to crush memory , tried to forget that awful midnight scene ten years ago , her brother 's dead body , her father 's avenging hand holding her own , as he begged her to do that , which he was too feeble , too old to accomplish . His words rang in her ears from across that long vista of the past . `` Before the face of Almighty God , who sees and hears me , I swear ... '' And she had repeated those words loudly and of her own free will , with her hand resting on her brother 's breast , and God Himself looking down upon her , for she had called upon Him to listen . `` I swear that I will seek out Paul Déroulède , and in any manner which God may dictate to me encompass his death , his ruin , or dishonour in revenge for my brother 's death .