midnight
The bedroom assigned him was almost at the top of the house , and the bed was none of the best . Thoughts many and disquieting haunted his mind , and his supper had been but light . Whereby it befell that midnight came and went , and Tedaldo was still awake . As thus he watched , he heard shortly after midnight , a noise as of persons descending from the roof into the house , and then through the chinks of the door of his room he caught the flicker of an ascending light . Wherefore he stole softly to the door , and peeping through a chink to make out what was afoot , he saw a very fine young woman bearing a light , and three men making towards her , being evidently those that had descended from the roof . The men exchanged friendly greetings with the young woman , and then one said to her : -- `` Now , God be praised , we may make our minds easy , for we are well assured that judgment for the death of Tedaldo Elisei is gotten by his brothers against Aldobrandino Palermini , and he has confessed , and the sentence is already drawn up ; but still it behoves us to hold our peace ; for , should it ever get abroad that we were guilty , we shall stand in the like jeopardy as Aldobrandino . '' So saying , they took leave of the woman , who seemed much cheered , and went to bed .