more than one hour after
midnight
It was night , but the moon afforded considerable light in the room , so that Amy was able to make the arrangement which she judged necessary . There was hope that Leicester might come to her apartment as soon as the revel in the Castle had subsided ; but there was also risk she might be disturbed by some unauthorized intruder . She had lost confidence in the key since Tressilian had entered so easily , though the door was locked on the inside ; yet all the additional security she could think of was to place the table across the door , that she might be warned by the noise should any one attempt to enter . Having taken these necessary precautions , the unfortunate lady withdrew to her couch , stretched herself down on it , mused in anxious expectation , and counted more than one hour after midnight , till exhausted nature proved too strong for love , for grief , for fear , nay , even for uncertainty , and she slept . Yes , she slept . The Indian sleeps at the stake in the intervals between his tortures ; and mental torments , in like manner , exhaust by long continuance the sensibility of the sufferer , so that an interval of lethargic repose must necessarily ensue , ere the pangs which they inflict can again be renewed . The Countess slept , then , for several hours , and dreamed that she was in the ancient house at Cumnor Place , listening for the low whistle with which Leicester often used to announce his presence in the courtyard when arriving suddenly on one of his stolen visits .