about an hour after midnight
The gate to the street appeared deserted , but as the two approached by the walk leading from the house , a guard stood out from the shadow of the wall , scrutinised for a moment their appearance , then saluting , held the gate open for them . Once on the road , the two turned towards the city , whose black wall barred their way some distance ahead , and whose towers and spires stood out dimly against the starlit sky . A great silence , broken only by the soothing murmur of the river , lay on the landscape . Wilhelm cast a glance aloft at the star-sprinkled dome of heaven , and said : `` I judge it to be about an hour after midnight . '' `` It may be so , '' answered the Emperor , `` I have lost all count of time . `` Has your Majesty been long in prison ? '' `` That I do not know .