midnight
It was many hours before it was again unlocked to let out the bishop , so long was he detained talking to Paula in her cell . To his enquiry as to whether she was an orthodox Greek , or as the common people called it , a Melchite , she replied that she was the latter ; adding that , if he had come with a view to perverting her from the confession of her forefathers , his visit was thrown away ; at the same time she reverenced him as a Christian and a priest ; as a learned man , and the friend whom her deceased uncle had esteemed above every other minister of his confession ; she was gladly ready to disclose to him all that lay on her soul in the face of death . He looked into the pure , calm face ; and though , at her first declaration , he had felt prompted to threaten her with the hideous end which he had but just done his utmost to avert , he now remembered the Greek widow 's request and bound himself to keep silence . He allowed her to talk till midnight , giving him the whole history of all she had known of joy and sorrow in the course of her young life ; his keen insight searched her soul , his pious heart rose to meet the strength and courage of hers ; and when he quitted her , as he walked home with the deacon , the first words with which he broke a long silence were : `` While you were asleep , God vouchsafed me an edifying hour through that heretic child of earth . '' When the door in the tall prison-wall was closed behind the women , Joanna made her way through streets still sultry under the silence of the night , Rustem following with the child . The giant 's good heart was devoted to Mary , and he often passed his huge hand over his eyes while she told him all that the scene they had witnessed meant , and the fearful end that threatened Paula . He broke in now and again , giving utterance to his grief and wrath in strange , natural sounds ; for he looked up to his beautiful sick nurse as to a superior being , and Mandane , too , had often remarked that they could never forget all that the noble maiden had done for them .