midnight
It now rushed on Julian 's mind that he had heard of persons possessed of the wonderful talent of counterfeiting sounds to such accuracy , that they could impose on their hearers the belief , that they proceeded from a point of the apartment entirely opposite to that which the real speaker occupied . Persuaded that he had now gained the depth of the mystery , he replied , `` This trifling , Sir Geoffrey , is unseasonable . Say what you have to say in your own voice and manner . These apish pleasantries do not become midnight in a Newgate dungeon . '' `` But the being who speaks with you , '' answered the voice , `` is fitted for the darkest hour , and the most melancholy haunts . '' Impatient of suspense , and determined to satisfy his curiosity , Julian jumped at once from his pallet , hoping to secure the speaker , whose voice indicated he was so near . But he altogether failed in his attempt , and grasped nothing save thin air .