midnight
Well , I was sitting in my window , looking down into the garden ; for the moon was shining . Presently I saw a man appear below , glance up towards me , and beckon . It was Voban . I hurried down to him , and he told me that there had been a wild carousing at the palace , and that ten gentlemen had determined , for a wicked sport , to mask themselves , go to the citadel at midnight , fetch you forth , and make you run the gauntlet in the yard of the Intendance , and afterwards set you fighting for your life with another prisoner , a common criminal . To this , Bigot , heated with wine , made no objection . Monsieur Doltaire was not present ; he had , it was said , taken a secret journey into the English country . The Governor was in Montreal , where he had gone to discuss matters of war with the Council .