midnight
In the kitchen he spoke to Jane the cook , who ran and escorted Mrs. Stephen , not without difficulty , up to her own room . Roger remained as she left him , staring into the fire . He served the supper himself , explaining Jane 's absence by a lie . Towards midnight the volunteers began to arrive , dropping in by ones and twos ; and by four in the morning , when Roger withdrew to his attic to snatch a few hours ' sleep , the garrison seemed likely to resume its old strength . The news of the widow 's capture exhilarated them all . Even those who had come dejectedly felt that they now possessed a hostage to play off , as a last card , against the law . That night Roger Stephen , in his attic , slept as he had not slept for months , and awoke in the grey dawn to find Trevarthen shaking him by the shoulder .