midnight
`` At midnight the bell of the chapel will sound . You may come then , but do not touch my body . To-morrow you will seek M. Compain , the curé of the Isle aux Coudres , and he will prepare my body for burial . '' He withdrew , leaving the company in affrighted silence ; ten , eleven struck , and at midnight the bell of the chapel began to toll . They arose , awe-stricken , and took their way to the little church . By the dim light before the sanctuary they caught sight of the robe of the priest . He was lying on the ground motionless , his face covered by his hands as if in prayer on the first steps of the altar .