midnight
When Immalee is transported to Spain and reassumes her baptismal name of Isidora , Melmoth follows her and their conversations are continued at dead of night through the lattice . Here they discourse on the real nature of love . At length the gloomy lover persuades Isidora to marry him . Their midnight nuptials take place against a weird background . By a narrow , precipitous path they approach the ruined chapel , and are united by a hand `` as cold as that of death . '' Meanwhile , Don Francisco , Isidora 's father , on his way home , spends the night at an inn , where a stranger insists on telling him `` The Tale of Guzman . '' In this tale the tempter visits a father whose family is starving , but who resists the lure of wealth .