midnight
What was now to be done ? About the geography of my present abode I knew , perhaps , as much as the public at large know about the Coppermine river and Behring 's straits . The world , it was true , was before me , `` where top choose , '' admirable things for an epic , but decidedly an unfortunate circumstance for a very cold gentleman in search of a blanket . Thus thinking , I opened the door of my chamber , and not in any way resolved how I should proceed , I stepped forth into the long corridor , which was dark as midnight itself . Tracing my path along the wall , I soon reached a door which I in vain attempted to open ; in another moment I found another and another , each of which were locked . Thus along the entire corridor I felt my way , making every effort to discover where any of the people of the house might have concealed themselves , but without success . What was to be done now ?