midnight
Now these two people heard Cardillac come downstairs punctually at nine o'clock that evening , according to his usual practice , and lock and bolt the door with considerable noise , and then go up again , where they further heard him read the evening prayers aloud , and then , to judge by the banging of doors , go to his own sleeping-chamber . Master Claude , like many old people , suffers from sleeplessness ; and that night too he could not close an eye . And so , somewhere about half-past nine it seems , his old housekeeper went into the kitchen -LRB- to get into which she had to cross the passage -RRB- for a light , and then came and sat down at the table beside Master Claude with an old Chronicle , out of which she read ; whilst the old man , following the train of his thoughts , first sat down in his easy-chair , and then stood up again , and paced softly and slowly up and down the room in order to bring on weariness and sleepiness . All remained quiet and still until after midnight . Then they heard quick steps above them and a heavy fall like some big weight being thrown on the floor , and then soon after a muffled groaning . A peculiar feeling of uneasiness and dreadful suspense took possession of them both . It was horror at the bloody deed which had just been committed , which passed out beside them .