midnight
-- fix your glittering eyes on me ; contemplate me in the abyss of poverty where I am fallen ! From the bottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly toward you , and your silent glance does not force me to grovel in the earth with shame ! Here , in the presence of your noble images , I am alone with my soul , with my conscience ; -- hero , no mortification can touch the being who , as gentleman , Christian , brother , and father , has sacrificed himself to duty ! '' His voice ceased ; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnight silence , looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died away in the lofty apartment , with his arms stretched toward the pictures as if invoking the beings they represented . `` Poor , senseless creature , '' continued he , after a while , clasping his hands and lifting them anew to heaven , `` thy soul seeks deliverance in dreams ! Yes ; it is , perhaps , a dream , an illusion ! Yet , thanks , thanks to the Almighty that allows even a dream to fortify me with courage and endurance !