midnight
You do n't know -- but I could tell you some tales about women who walk in their sleep by moonlight . '' `` Well ? '' asked Heinz eagerly . `` As a maiden , '' Biberli continued impressively , with the pious intention of guarding his master from injury , `` the somnambulist merely runs the risk of falling from the roof , or whatever accident may happen to a sleepwalker ; but if she enters the estate of holy matrimony , the evil power which has dominion over her sooner or later transforms her at midnight into a troll , which seizes her husband 's throat in his sleep and strangles him . '' `` Nursery tales ! '' cried Heinz angrily , but Biberli answered calmly : `` It can make no difference to you what occurs in the case of such possessed women , for henceforward the Ortlieb house will be closed against you . And -- begging your pardon -- it is fortunate .