midnight
And so the last night came . He sat alone . The jailer who was to share his cell on this last , awful vigil had been bribed to leave him by himself until the latest moment . `` Come in before midnight , '' he said , smiling slightly , `` and guard me while I sleep , if you wish . Until then , I should like to be left quite alone . '' And the man obeyed , awed unutterably by the sublime look of that marble face . `` He never did it , '' he said to his wife .