midnight
He still assured his Judges that for his own part He had never entered into any compact with the infernal Spirits ; But the threat of being tortured made him declare himself to be a Sorcerer , and Heretic , and whatever other title the Inquisitors chose to fix upon him . In consequence of this avowal , his sentence was immediately pronounced . He was ordered to prepare himself to perish in the Auto da Fe , which was to be solemnized at twelve o'clock that night . This hour was chosen from the idea that the horror of the flames being heightened by the gloom of midnight , the execution would have a greater effect upon the mind of the People . Ambrosio rather dead than alive was left alone in his dungeon . The moment in which this terrible decree was pronounced had nearly proved that of his dissolution . He looked forward to the morrow with despair , and his terrors increased with the approach of midnight .