midnight
She was relieved to find that there were no bars at the window , as she had feared ; but upon opening the casement and leaning out she saw immediately beneath her a broad moat , full of stagnant water , which surrounded the chateau , and forbade any hope of succour or escape on that side . Beyond the moat was a thick grove of large trees , which entirely shut out the view ; and she returned to her seat by the fire , more disheartened and cast down than ever . She was very nervous , and trembled at the slightest sound -- casting hasty , terrified glances round the vast apartment , and dreading lest an unseen door in some shadowy corner should be softly opened , or a hidden panel in the wall be slipped aside , to admit her relentless enemy to her presence . She remembered all the horrible tales she had ever heard of secret passages and winding staircases in the walls , that are supposed to abound in ancient castles ; and the mysterious visitants , both human and supernatural , that are said to be in the habit of issuing from them , in the gloaming , and at midnight . As the twilight deepened into darkness , her terror increased , and she nearly fainted from fright when a servant suddenly entered with lights . While poor Isabelle was suffering such agony in one part of the chateau , her abductors were having a grand carouse in another . They were to remain there for a while as a sort of garrison , in case of an attack by de Sigognac and his friends ; and were gathered round the table in a large room down on the ground floor -- as remote as possible from Isabelle 's sumptuous quarters .