midnight
said Nancy . He lowered the scuttle , and sat astride the roof , considering what to do next . It was a relief to be out of his prison , but it must be admitted that Jasper 's situation was not particularly desirable or agreeable . It was midnight , and he was seated astride the roof of the house which had served as his prison . There seemed to be no chance to reach the street , except to slide down the roof , and that would be certain death . Jasper looked about him in great perplexity . As his deliverer had told him , the next house was a story higher than the one on whose roof he was seated , and , still more important , there was a side-window looking out in that direction .