midnight
They halted thirty or forty yards from the gate ; and the countess herself came up on to the wall , when the knight raised his vizor . `` Countess Amelie de Laville , I summon you , in the name of his majesty the king , to surrender . I have with me an ample force to overcome all resistance ; but his gracious majesty , in his clemency , has empowered me to offer to all within the walls their lives ; save only that you and your son shall accompany me to Paris , there to be dealt with according to the law , under the accusation of having taken up arms against his most sacred majesty . '' `` Methinks , sir , '' the countess said , in a loud clear voice , `` that it would have been better had you delayed until this morning , instead of attempting , like a band of midnight thieves , to break into my chateau . I fancy we should have heard but little of his majesty 's clemency , had you succeeded in your attempt . I am in arms , not against the king , but against his evil counsellors ; the men who persuade him to break his pledged word , and to treat his unoffending subjects as if they were the worst of malefactors . Assuredly their royal highnesses , the Princes of Conde and Navarre , have no thought of opposing his majesty ; but desire , above all things , that he should be able to act without pressure from Lorraine or Guise , from pope or King of Spain ; and when they lay down their arms , I shall be glad to do so .