midnight
McGilveray and the corporal were to meet again and exchange courtesies after the manner of brothers -- if the fortunes of war permitted . McGilveray was left alone . To while away the time he began to whistle to himself , and what with whistling , and what with winking and talking to the lantern on the table , and calling himself painful names , he endured his captivity well enough . It was near midnight when the lock turned in the door and presently stepped inside -- a girl . `` Malbrouk s ` en va t ` en guerre , '' said she , and nodded her head to him humorously . By this McGilveray knew that this was the maid that had got him into all this trouble . At first he was inclined to say so , but she came nearer , and one look of her black eyes changed all that .