midnight
`` How came you to be absent from her ladyship 's party ? '' `` Because , urbane pirate captain , I am an unwilling prisoner in this stronghold , being an obstreperous person , who refused to obey my superiors ; those set in authority over me . Consequently am I immured in this dismal dungeon of the water-rats , and thus , youthful pirate , I welcome even so red-handed an outlaw as yourself . '' `` Then are we in like case , my lady of midnight beauty , for I , too , am a prisoner in Pfalzgrafenstein , and , when you came , was cogitating some plan of escape . Therefore , rebellious maiden , the sword of this red-handed freebooter is most completely at your service , '' and the speaker once more doffed his bonnet with a gallant sweep that caused the plume to kiss the flagstones at his feet , and he bowed low to the brave girl who had shown no fear of him . Greusel appeared on one of the balconies , and called down to his leader . `` There are , '' he said , `` a number of women in the western rooms of the Castle .