midnight
`` Alas ! '' he thought , `` I have deserved all this . She will come no more , and she is right in staying away ; in her place I should do just the same . '' Yet notwithstanding all this , Cornelius listened , waited , and hoped until midnight , then he threw himself upon the bed , with his clothes on . It was a long and sad night for him , and the day brought no hope to the prisoner . At eight in the morning , the door of his cell opened ; but Cornelius did not even turn his head ; he had heard the heavy step of Gryphus in the lobby , but this step had perfectly satisfied the prisoner that his jailer was coming alone . Thus Cornelius did not even look at Gryphus .