midnight
She watched his tall figure stride quickly along till a turn of the road hid it . Then , having closed the window and the shutters again , she sat down to keep her watch , praying for him , for me , and for her dear mistress the queen . For she knew that perilous work was afoot that night , and did not know whom it might threaten or whom destroy . From the moment that Mr. Rassendyll thus left my house at midnight on his search for Rupert of Hentzau , every hour and almost every moment brought its incident in the swiftly moving drama which decided the issues of our fortune . What we were doing has been told ; by now Rupert himself was on his way back to the city , and the queen was meditating , in her restless vigil , on the resolve that in a few hours was to bring her also to Strelsau . Even in the dead of night both sides were active . For , plan cautiously and skillfully as he might , Rudolf fought with an antagonist who lost no chances , and who had found an apt and useful tool in that same Bauer , a rascal , and a cunning rascal , if ever one were bred in the world .