midnight
It was afterwards affirmed that Sir William Howe had repeated that selfsame gesture of rage and sorrow , when , for the last time , and as the last royal governor , he passed through the portal of the Province House . `` Hark ! -- the procession moves , '' said Miss Joliffe . The music was dying away along the street , and its dismal strains were mingled with the knell of midnight from the steeple of the Old South , and with the roar of artillery , which announced that the beleaguering army of Washington had intrenched itself upon a nearer height than before . As the deep boom of the cannon smote upon his ear , Colonel Joliffe raised himself to the full height of his aged form , and smiled sternly on the British General . `` Would your Excellency inquire further into the mystery of the pageant ? '' said he .