midnight
Tighter she pressed , and tighter yet . My eyeballs started ; my tongue lolled ; I heard my brand drop , and through a mist I saw it picked up instantly . It crashed upon my skull as I still struggled vainly ; again and again it came down mercilessly in the same place ; until I felt as though a sponge of warm water had been squeezed over my head , and saw a hundred withered masks grinning sudden exultation into mine ; but still the lean arm whirled , and the splinters flew , till I was blind with my blood and the seven senses were beaten out of me . It must have been midnight when I opened my eyes ; a clock was striking as though it never would stop . My mouth seemed fire ; a pungent flavor filled my nostrils ; the wineglass felt cold against my teeth . `` That 's more like it ! '' muttered a voice close to my ear .