two hours after
midnight
`` And the fellow now there , '' said Jenny , `` told me he could not quit them -- no , not if we were robbed and murdered twice over . I could scream now , only that I 'm afraid the villains might hear me ! '' While L'Isle looked suspiciously at the maid , not so good an actress as her mistress , Lady Mabel glanced her eye at the clock . Apparent time called it one , real time said it was two hours after midnight . She felt sure of her game , and need wear the mask no longer . She had been acting a long and trying part , and began to feel tired , and now showed it by letting her terror subside into one or two little yawns , which became her so well , that L'Isle never thought her more lovely than now when she was getting tired of his company . It was high time to get rid of him .