midnight
There were no papers , however , and those were what he was in search of ; so spying a drawer in the table , he pulled it hastily open . The sight that met his eyes fairly dazzled him . It was full of jewels of incomparable beauty and value , strewn as carelessly about as if they were valueless . The blaze of gems at the midnight court seemed to him as nothing compared with the Golconda , the Valley of Diamonds shooting forth sparks of rainbow-fire before him now . Around one magnificent diamond necklace was entwined a scrap of paper , on which was written : `` The family jewels of the Montmorencis . To be given to my sisters when I am dead . '' That settled their destiny .