midnight
She was a wild bird . She had been caught and tamed for a time , but she was always wild . The life which they had given her had been precious and sweet to her , and she had learned willingly all its ways ; but at the bottom of her heart the love of liberty , the love of movement , the love of air and sky and freedom were stronger than all else . She was of an adventurous temper also , and brave like all Abruzzese , and she longed to see one of those moonlit midnight meetings of armed men to which she had escaped from Alaida 's keeping , she could not have forced herself to go back out of this clear , cool , radiant night into the little , close , dark sleeping-chamber . No , not if Don Silverio himself had stood in her path with the cross raised . She was like a year-old lioness who smells blood . She knew the way to the tomb of Asdrubal , even in the darkness , as well as he did .