midnight
I will advise you where to plant yourselves ; Acquaint you with the perfect spy o ' the time , The moment on ' t ; for ' t must be done tonight . MACBETH Emily was somewhat surprised , on the following day , to find that Annette had heard of Madame Montoni 's confinement in the chamber over the portal , as well as of her purposed visit there , on the approaching night . That the circumstance , which Barnardine had so solemnly enjoined her to conceal , he had himself told to so indiscreet a hearer as Annette , appeared very improbable , though he had now charged her with a message , concerning the intended interview . He requested , that Emily would meet him , unattended , on the terrace , at a little after midnight , when he himself would lead her to the place he had promised ; a proposal , from which she immediately shrunk , for a thousand vague fears darted athwart her mind , such as had tormented her on the preceding night , and which she neither knew how to trust , nor to dismiss . It frequently occurred to her , that Barnardine might have deceived her , concerning Madame Montoni , whose murderer , perhaps , he really was ; and that he had deceived her by order of Montoni , the more easily to draw her into some of the desperate designs of the latter . The terrible suspicion , that Madame Montoni no longer lived , thus came , accompanied by one not less dreadful for herself . Unless the crime , by which the aunt had suffered , was instigated merely by resentment , unconnected with profit , a motive , upon which Montoni did not appear very likely to act , its object must be unattained , till the niece was also dead , to whom Montoni knew that his wife 's estates must descend .