midnight
`` Besides , if I did move I can see quite plainly , it 's almost full moon ! '' There was a barely perceptible pause and then ; `` Yes , mem-sahib , it is the full moon ! '' Leonie , stricken dumb in the belief that the story of her mental plight had reached even to the bazaar , turned back and re-entered her so-called bedroom , drawing a purdah made of _ golaputtah _ leaves across the door , and leaving her bearer to his own devices and thoughts . Which were utterly of her as he divested himself of his outer raiment , and nude save for the loin cloth , sat like a bronze statue in the overpowering heat of the night ; and even as `` the eagle flying forth beats down his wings upon the earth , '' his thoughts beat down so forcibly upon her mind that at midnight she arose in her sleep and lifting the purdah walked out on to the platform . She walked straight forward , too far from the man for him to pull her back ; and in too deep a trance for him to have stopped her with safety to her brain . His face was that of one tortured as he rose to his feet and threw out his hands ; and the sweat came out in great beads upon his forehead under the supreme effort of will , which pulled her up within an inch of certain death . For one long moment she stood with arms upstretched to the moon shining in all its glory , then swung round and crossed to where he stood against the hut .