midnight
D'Albigny had been there , and Brunaulieu , Captain of the Grand Duke 's Guards , and Father Alexander , who dreamed of the Episcopate of Geneva , and others -- the chiefs of the plot , his patrons . To his mortification they had been able to tell him things he had not learned , though he was within the city , and they without . Among others , that the Council had certain knowledge of him and his plans , and but for the urgency of Blondel would have arrested him a fortnight before . His companions at the midnight supper had detected his dismay , and had derided him , thinking that with that there was an end of the mysterious scheme which he had refused to impart . They fancied that he would not return to the city , or venture his head a second time within the lion 's jaws . But they reckoned without their man , Basterga with all his faults was brave ; and he had failed in too many schemes to resign this one lightly . `` Si fractus illabatur orbis Impavidum ferient ruinæ , '' he murmured ; and he had ventured , he had passed the gates , he was here .