midnight
Outside , the road gleamed in the moonlight as it stretched on to the village . A glimpse of the graveyard through the window made him shudder . It reminded him of a grave he had never seen save in his mind . It was past midnight . He would go back to his bed , though he felt no inclination to sleep . As he approached the stable , walking in the shadow of the trees on the side of the street , he saw a woman come out of the blacksmith 's shop opposite the stable . For a moment she paused , her face raised towards the window of his room , and then retreated into the shop .