midnight
It seemed to me that if I deserted her then , I should never see that woman more ; and rather than that should befall , I was prepared to brave anything . So I waited in that bare , whitewashed sitting-room , and waited and waited till she came , fearing desperately for the safety of my great treasure , yet determined to expose it to any risk rather than beat retreat alone . It was a torturing vigil . * * * * * The clocks had long struck midnight , and the _ sereno _ had several times raised his dirge-like chaunt in the street outside , before my companion came to me . She wasted no time in preliminaries . I think she could see by my outward expression that I knew how danger threatened , and so she told in as few words as possible what she had learnt . `` I hope you can understand it , '' she said at the conclusion .