midnight
In less than ten minutes he was sleeping dreamlessly . For four hours he slept without movement . But just above his head there hung a baize-covered board containing a list or two of the parish ratepayers and the usual notice of the spring training of the Royal Cornwall Eangers Militia . This last placard had broken from two of its fastenings , and towards midnight flapped loudly in an eddy of the light wind . The sleeper stirred , and passed a languid hand over his face . A spider within the porch had been busy while he slept , and his hand encountered gossamer . His eyes opened .