midnight
The room was now quite brightly illuminated . There was something very cheery and reassuring in these little streaming flames , and snuffing them gave me an occupation , and afforded a helpful sense of the passage of time . Even with that , however , the brooding expectation of the vigil weighed heavily upon me . It was after midnight that the candle in the alcove suddenly went out , and the black shadow sprang back to its place there . I did not see the candle go out ; I simply turned and saw that the darkness was there , as one might start and see the unexpected presence of a stranger . `` By Jove ! '' said I aloud ; `` that draught 's a strong one ! ''