midnight
The reader may remember , that when I signed those articles , upon which I recovered my liberty , there were some which I disliked , upon account of their being too servile ; neither could anything but an extreme necessity have forced me to submit . But , being now a _ nardac _ of the highest rank in that empire , such offices were looked upon as below my dignity , and the emperor , to do him justice , never once mentioned them to me . However , it was not long before I had an opportunity of doing his majesty , at least as I then thought , a most signal service . I was alarmed at midnight with the cries of many hundred people at my door , by which , being suddenly awaked , I was in some kind of terror . I heard the word _ burglum _ repeated incessantly . Several of the emperor 's court , making their way through the crowd , entreated me to come immediately to the palace , where her imperial majesty 's apartment was on fire , by the carelessness of a maid of honor , who fell asleep while she was reading a romance . I got up in an instant ; and orders being given to clear the way before me , and it being likewise a moonshine night , I made a shift to get to the palace , without trampling on any of the people .