midnight
Remembering what she had heard of the daring enterprises of Montoni , it occurred to her , that she had just seen some unhappy person , who , having been plundered by his banditti , was brought hither a captive ; and that the music she had formerly heard , came from him . Yet , if they had plundered him , it still appeared improbable , that they should have brought him to the castle , and it was also more consistent with the manners of banditti to murder those they rob , than to make them prisoners . But what , more than any other circumstance , contradicted the supposition , that it was a prisoner , was that it wandered on the terrace , without a guard : a consideration , which made her dismiss immediately her first surmise . Afterwards , she was inclined to believe , that Count Morano had obtained admittance into the castle ; but she soon recollected the difficulties and dangers , that must have opposed such an enterprise , and that , if he had so far succeeded , to come alone and in silence to her casement at midnight was not the conduct he would have adopted , particularly since the private staircase , communicating with her apartment , was known to him ; neither would he have uttered the dismal sounds she had heard . Another suggestion represented , that this might be some person , who had designs upon the castle ; but the mournful sounds destroyed , also , that probability . Thus , enquiry only perplexed her . Who , or what , it could be that haunted this lonely hour , complaining in such doleful accents and in such sweet music -LRB- for she was still inclined to believe , that the former strains and the late appearance were connected -RRB- , she had no means of ascertaining ; and imagination again assumed her empire , and roused the mysteries of superstition .