midnight
`` At will . '' `` I will sign the compact . '' `` Sign ! '' Faust signed his name to a compact that was to give the Evil One his soul for twenty-four years of pleasure , gold , and knowledge , that were to come to an end at midnight . `` I will give you an attendant , '' said the Evil One , `` to help you . '' He caused a dark but very elegant gentleman to appear , whom he presented to Faust as Mephistopheles . Dr. Faustus and Mephistopheles now began to travel into all lands , performing wonders to the amazement of all people wherever they went .