eleven o'clock at night
A note had been sent to the governor , informing him that the grand master intended to visit the prison at eleven o'clock , but that the matter was to be kept an absolute secret ; and that the governor himself was to be down at the gate to admit him . William Neave , the governor of the prison , looked astonished indeed when , upon his opening the door , the grand master and the bailiff of the English langue , with the twelve knights behind them , entered . He had been puzzled when , four days before , he had received an order from the grand master that Ahmet , a servitor in the auberge of the English langue , should be permitted to pass the night in his house , with authority to move freely and without question , at any hour , in the courtyard of the gaol , and to depart at any hour , secretly and without observation , by the private gate . Still more had he been surprised when he received the message that the grand master would pay him a secret visit at eleven o'clock at night . `` Let no word be spoken until we are in your apartments , '' D'Aubusson said in a low voice , as he entered . `` But first lead four of these knights and post them so that none can enter the gaol from the house . If there are more than four doors or windows on that side , you must post a larger number .