midnight
`` It is now or never ! '' he whispered . He took the seemingly lifeless hand in his own , and bending over Mira Leroux , spoke softly in her ear : `` Mrs. Leroux , '' he said , `` there is something which we all would ask you to tell us ; we ask it for a reason -- believe me . '' Throughout the latter part of this scene the big clock had been chiming the hour , and now was beating out the twelve strokes of midnight ; had struck six of them and was about to strike the seventh . SEVEN ! boomed the clock . Mira Leroux opened her eyes and looked up into the face of the physician .