midnight
All the cattle were housed , and in all the huts and homesteads men and women rejoiced and feasted . There was only Patrasche out in the cruel cold -- old and famished and full of pain , but with the strength and the patience of a great love to sustain him in his search . The trail of Nello 's steps , faint and obscure as it was under the new snow , went straightly along the accustomed tracks into Antwerp . It was past midnight when Patrasche traced it over the boundaries of the town and into the narrow , tortuous , gloomy streets . It was all quite dark in the town , save where some light gleamed ruddily through the crevices of house-shutters , or some group went homeward with lanterns chanting drinking-songs . The streets were all white with ice : the high walls and roofs loomed black against them . There was scarce a sound save the riot of the winds down the passages as they tossed the creaking signs and shook the tall lamp-irons .