midnight
Through the streets he flew at a frantic rate , growing more excited and full of apprehension the nearer he came to old London Bridge ; and calling himself a select litany of hard names inwardly , for having left the dear little thing at all . `` If I find her safe and well , '' thought Sir Norman , emphatically , `` nothing short of an earthquake or dying of the plague will ever induce me to leave her again , until she is Lady Kingsley , and in the old manor of Devonshire . What a fool , idiot , and ninny I must have been , to have left her as I did , knowing those two sleuth-hounds were in full chase ! What are all the Mirandas and midnight queens to me , if Leoline is lost ? '' That last question was addressed to the elements in general ; and as they disdained reply , he cantered on furiously , till the old house by the river was reached . It was the third time that night he had paused to contemplate it , and each time with very different feelings ; first , from simple curiosity ; second , in an ecstasy of delight , and third and last , in an agony of apprehension . All around was peaceful and still ; moon and stars sailed serenely through a sky of silver and snow ; a faint cool breeze floated up from the river and fanned his hot and fevered forehead ; the whole city lay wrapped in stillness as profound and deathlike as the fabled one of the marble prince in the Eastern tale -- nothing living moved abroad , but the lonely night-guard keeping their dreary vigils before the plague-stricken houses , and the ever-present , ever-busy pest-cart , with its mournful bell and dreadful cry .