midnight
In her distraught state of mind she had scarcely pondered that contingency . Now that it occurred to her all her concern was for the result of it to Sir Oliver . Would there be fighting , and would he perhaps perish in that conflict at the hands either of the English or of the corsairs whom for her sake he had betrayed , perhaps without ever hearing her confession of penitence , without speaking those words of forgiveness of which her soul stood in such thirsty need ? It would be towards midnight when unable longer to bear the suspense of it , she rose and softly made her way to the entrance . Very quietly she lifted the curtain , and in the act of stepping forth almost stumbled over a body that lay across the threshold . She drew back with a startled gasp ; then stooped to look , and by the faint rays of the lanterns on mainmast and poop-rail she recognized Sir Oliver , and saw that he slept . She never heeded the two Nubians immovable as statues who kept guard .