midnight
`` Ah , kind heaven , thou hast not yet deserted me . '' He took out a small bundle in which there were dates , and with a portion of these he satisfied his hunger . Night came on and found him with an unconquered spirit , still laboring at his work . At last , when it might have been an hour before midnight , the outer grating was displaced , and Ranadar passed through . He found himself in a narrow passage which went for a long distance on either side . For a time he hesitated which way to choose , but at length , he turned toward the left and went on . He walked for a long distance , and at last came to a door , which , opening , disclosed a flight of steps .