about midnight
The dim fire had long since burned out , and the air became intensely cold . No one broke upon their solitude , -- not a voice was heard in the house . They felt neither cold nor hunger , -- they felt but the solitude , and the silence , and the dread of something that was to come . At length , about midnight , a bell rang at the street door ; then there was the quick sound of steps , of sullen bolts withdrawn , of low , murmured voices . Light streamed through the chinks of the door to the apartment , the door itself opened . Two Italians bearing tapers entered , and the Count di Peschiera followed . Beatrice sprang up , and rushed towards her brother .