midnight
This , as if it had been a Gregorian chant , the great fellow had hit upon as a means of communicating with John without breaking the rule and committing sin . John did not lock his door on the following night . On going to bed he listened for the noises he had heard before , half fearing and yet half wishing that he might hear them again . But he heard nothing , and toward midnight he fell asleep . Something made him shudder , and he awoke with the sensation of moonlight on his face . The moon was indeed shining , and its sepulchral light was on a figure that stood by the foot of the bed . It was Paul , with a livid face , murmuring his name in a voice almost as faint as a breath .