midnight
It ought by rights to have been almost ludicrous , yet instead it was the exact reverse -- half threatening . Why should not a man want a compass ? But , again , why should he ? And at midnight ? The voice , the eyes , the near presence -- what did they bring that set his nerves thus asking unusual questions ? This strange impression that something grave was happening , something unearthly -- how was it born exactly ? The man 's proximity came like a shock .