midnight
Night after night she was accustomed to slipping from her window , when everything was quiet below and the lights all out , making her way along that narrow coping , or ledge , and tapping softly at the window of her mother 's room . They would remain together until toward morning , when the girl made it a practice to return by the same perilous route . On this particular night it had seemed as though the lights below would never go out . Carl Potzfeldt , the master spy , expecting important news and a messenger from the headquarters of the Crown Prince , had been waiting up until long after midnight in order to fullfil the important duties entrusted to him . Jack suggested that he creep along that coping and inform the lady of the golden chance for escape that had arrived . But as she would hardly be able to return by the same way , it seemed as though some other scheme must be considered . Bessie herself had a brilliant thought bordering on an inspiration .