midnight
Her self-control had vanished . She clung to him passionately , weeping . He was forced to what should have been her rôle ; and in cheering her he managed to gain a modicum of self-confidence for himself . She left him at midnight , much reassured . But on Monday morning Cora 's cell door was thrown open , and he was motioned forth by a grave man , who conducted him through echoing gloomy corridors to the committee room , where he was left facing the tables and the men who sat behind them . Cora 's natural buoyancy vanished . The men before him met his gaze with rigid , unbending solemnity .