midnight
He added , apologetically : `` You know I must do my duty , madam . I fear some of your servants are implicated , or that guards have been tampered with . '' `` You are at liberty to examine any one you please . '' They might as well have examined a carved , wrinkled effigy as old Cuffy , Lane 's midnight guide . `` I don ' know nuffin ' ` tall ` bout it , '' he declared . `` My ole woman kin tell yo ' dat I went to bed when she did and got up when she did . '' The guard , bought with kindness , was as dense in his ignorance as any of the others .