midnight
De Fervlans now sent orders to his troop to break camp at once , with as little stir as possible ; and before twilight shadows fell upon the land , the demons were riding toward the Hansag . If we assume that Marie left the Nameless Castle in company with the wife of Satan Laczi at midnight , we can easily see that she would have but a few hours ' advantage of the demons , who broke camp at sunset . If the latter met with no hindrance on their way , they would overtake the coach of the fugitives at the crossing of the Raab . As it was after midnight when Ludwig Vavel learned of the danger which threatened Marie , he could not , even if he had set out at once , have reached the Hansag before noon of the following day , by which time De Fervlans and his demons would have accomplished their errand . Therefore nothing short of a miracle could save the maid . The miracle happened -- a true miracle , like the one of the biblical legend , when the Red Sea obstructed the way of the persecutor Pharaoh . Those who may doubt this assertion are referred to the `` Monograph on Lake Neusiedl , '' in which may be read a description of the phenomenon .