midnight
Before him lay one of the largest of the storehouses that surrounded the tower . With his torch in one hand he went in at the open door . In the large shed lay the chests and cases , the hemp , linseed , straw and matting that had been used in packing the vessels and works of art with which the palace had been newly furnished . This he knew ; and now , looking up at the stars once more and seeing that the second hour after midnight had almost run to an end , a fearful thought flashed through his mind , and without daring to consider , he flung the torch into the open shed , crammed to the roof with inflammable materials , and stood motionless , with his arms crossed , to watch through the door of the shed the rapidly spreading flame , the soaring smoke , the struggle and mingling of the noiseless wreaths of black vapor from the various combustibles with the ruddy light , the victory of the fire and the leaping flames as they flew upward . The roof , thatched with palm-leaves and reeds , had begun to crackle when Antinous rushed into the tower only a few paces off crying : `` Fire -- fire ! '' and up the stairs which led to the observatory of the imperial stargazer . Youth has a right to go astray now and then Feeling themselves oppressed by the benevolence