midnight
`` What right , Matilda ? -- every right , human and divine . I sought but to save a victim from the hands of a midnight murderer . `` And , to effect this , scrupled not to become a midnight murderer yourself ! `` And is it thus you interpret my conduct , Matilda ? '' -- the voice of Gerald spoke bitter reproach -- `` can you compare the act of that man with mine , and hold me no more blameless than him ? '' `` Nay , I did not say I blamed you , '' she returned , gaily -- `` but the fact is , you had left me so long to ruminate here alone , that I have fallen into a mood argumentative , or philosophical -- whichsoever you may be pleased to term it -- and I am willing to maintain my position , that you might , by possibility , have been more guilty than the culprit at whom you aimed , had your shot destroyed him . ''