midnight
Good-night till twelve , Ben . I 'm tired , and shall be glad of my rest . '' `` Good-night till twelve , captain , '' said the old soldier ; and Roy went to his room , took off helmet and sword-belt , and threw himself upon a couch , to forget all his low spirits and troubles in less than a minute , falling at once into a deep sleep , from which he started at the first chime of the tower clock . The little lamp was burning dimly now on the mantelpiece , but it gave him light enough to buckle on his sword ; and as he did so , the chiming and striking of the midnight hour went on in the midst of what seemed an unnatural silence , which impressed him . The next moment his helmet was on , and he stepped quickly out into the corridor , to find it full of armed men , four of whom dashed at him as his hand flew to his side , and he drew his sword . It was a vain effort ; his arms were roughly grasped , and the cry he tried to raise was smothered by a hand pressed upon his mouth ; while , by the light of a lantern raised on high , he saw the figure of the secretary , who stepped forward and took the sword wrenched from his hand . `` Thanks , my brave young castellan , '' he said , mockingly .