midnight
But even then the rain continued to fall heavily , and the night , which had come on , was impenetrably black . This lasted till near midnight . Rowland thought of Mary Garland 's challenge in the porch , but he thought even more that , although the fetid interior of a high-nestling chalet may offer a convenient refuge from an Alpine tempest , there was no possible music in the universe so sweet as the sound of Roderick 's voice . At midnight , through his dripping window-pane , he saw a star , and he immediately went downstairs and out into the gallery . The rain had ceased , the cloud-masses were dissevered here and there , and several stars were visible . In a few minutes he heard a step behind him , and , turning , saw Miss Garland . He asked about Mrs. Hudson and learned that she was sleeping , exhausted by her fruitless lamentations .