nearly midnight
Complete darkness enfolded the white house . Hermon saw only two windows lighted , the ones in his friend 's studio , which looked out into the open square , while his own faced the water . What did this mean ? It must be nearly midnight , and he could no longer expect Myrtilus to be still at work . He had supposed that he should find him in his chamber , supported by his slaves , struggling for breath . What was the meaning of the light in the workrooms now ? Where was his usually efficient Bias ?