Twelve o'clock
He sat trying to read , with his ears alert for the slightest sound . Brother Burge seemed to be a long time undressing . For half an hour after he had retired he could hear him moving restlessly about his room . Twelve o'clock struck from the tower of the parish church , and was followed almost directly by the tall clock standing in the hall down-stairs . Scarcely had the sounds died away than a low moaning from the next room caused the affrighted jeweller to start from his chair and place his ear against the wall . Two or three hollow groans came through the plaster , followed by ejaculations which showed clearly that Brother Burge was at that moment engaged in a terrified combat with the Powers of Darkness to decide whether he should , or should not , rifle his host 's shop . His hands clenched and his ear pressed close to the wall , the jeweller listened to a monologue which increased in interest with every word .