midnight
I had determined , on Naomi 's account , to clear the matter up ; but it is only candid to add that my doubts of John Jago 's existence remained unshaken by the letter . I believed it to be nothing more nor less than a heartless and stupid `` hoax . '' The striking of the hall-clock roused me from my meditations . I counted the strokes -- midnight ! I rose to go up to my room . Everybody else in the farm had retired to bed , as usual , more than an hour since . The stillness in the house was breathless .