Midnight
He had been caught in a trap , and had involved himself with all the rest . His own fate could be no worse than it was before , but it was doubly bitter to fall back into his despair , after having been for a brief interval raised up to so bright a hope . Such were the thoughts that finally took possession of Claude , and , with every passing moment , deepened into conviction . Midnight had passed ; the sentry had come , and there he paced mechanically , with no thought of him . Either the ex-commandant or the sentinel had betrayed them . Too many had been in the secret . Better never to have heard of this plan than , having heard of it , to find it thus dashed away on the very eve of its accomplishment .