midnight
`` Of course I can , Barry . '' Whereupon , for sole answer , Barry stumped away into the closet below -- which he called his room -- laid himself carefully away upon his old blankets , and I mounted to the lantern . There -- the hour of sundown having come -- I lighted the lamps , and awaited my time . That was still some hours off ; I was to do nothing until midnight . Meanwhile , I laid myself down to take a nap . I had promised watchfulness , but it was hardly necessary in the beginning of the night . The wicks were then fresh , and it was not likely that any accident could happen .