about an hour after midnight
Leaving the body in care of the second , Parravicin and his friends returned to the coach , where the major rejoiced greatly at the issue of the duel ; but the knight looked grave , and pondered upon the words of the dying man . After a time , however , he recovered his spirits , and dined with his friends at the Smyrna ; but they observed that he drank more deeply than usual . His excesses did not , however , prevent him from playing with his usual skill , and he won a large sum from Rochester at hazard . Flushed with success , and heated with wine , he walked up to Disbrowe 's residence about an hour after midnight . As he approached the house , he observed a strangely-shaped cart at the door , and , halting for a moment , saw a body , wrapped in a shroud , brought out . Could it be Mrs. Disbrowe ? Rushing forward , to one of the assistants in black cloaks -- and who was no other than Chowles -- he asked whom he was about to inter .