midnight
Five years passed away , and during that period she heard no more of her brother Eugenio . But at the expiration of that interval she received a note stating that he was again in Florence -- that necessity had alone brought him hither , and that he would be at a particular place at a certain hour to meet either herself or some confidential person whom she might instruct to see him . Our mother filled a bag with gold , and put into it some of her choicest jewels , and thus provided , she repaired in person to the place of appointment . It grieved her generous heart thus to be compelled to meet her brother secretly , as if he were a common robber or a midnight bravo ; but for her husband 's peace , and in obedience to the spirit of the oath which imperious circumstances had alone led her in some degree to violate , she was forced to adopt that sad and humiliating alternative . '' `` Alas ! poor mother ! '' sobbed Francisco , deeply affected by this narrative .