midnight
The action gave the count an opportunity of gratifying his curiosity . The object of attraction was now plainly visible . Sir Norman 's surmises had been correct . The green table of the parliament-house of the midnight court had been converted , by the aid of cushions and pillows , into an extempore couch ; and half-buried in their downy depths lay Miranda , the queen . The sweeping robe of royal purple , trimmed with ermine , the circlets of jewels on arms , bosom , and head , she still wore , and the beautiful face was whiter than fallen snow . Yet she was not dead , as Sir Norman had dreaded ; for the dark eyes were open , and were fixed with an unutterable depth of melancholy on vacancy . Her arms lay helplessly by her side , and someone , the court physician probably , was bending over her and feeling her pulse .