nearly midnight
The nearest church was not far off . It was that of Sainte-Claire . For the last three months it had been opened for public worship under the decree of the First Consul . As it was now nearly midnight , the doors were closed ; but Charlotte knew where the sexton lived and she went to wake him . Amélie waited , leaning against the walls as motionless as the marble figures that adorned its frontal . The sexton arrived at the end of half an hour . During that time the girl had seen a dreadful sight .