midnight
the tale is true enough . I have it from one of them under the Signet -- surely that Signet has served us well -- who believes , poor fool , that I am in the plot . Now , you are the officers of the bodyguard who watch in the ante-chamber to-night , are you not ? Well , when the guard is changed at midnight , the eight men who should replace them at the doors of the room of Salah-ed-din will not arrive ; they will be decoyed away by a false order . In their stead will come eight murderers , disguised in the robes and arms of Mameluks . They look to deceive and cut you down , kill Salah-ed-din , and escape by the further door . Can you hold your own awhile against eight men , think you ? ''