midnight
Even in the servants ' rooms all was dark at last . The night deepened and the stars thickened overhead . The policeman 's whistle sounded through the quiet streets and the city seemed at last to be sinking into a brief repose . It was long past midnight , and still Michael kept up his patrol . Up this side of the street , down that , around the corner , through the alley at the back where `` de kids '' had stood in silent respect uncovered toward his window years ago ; back to the avenue again , and on around . With his cheery whistle and his steady ringing step he awakened no suspicion even when he came near to a policeman ; and besides , no lurkers of the dark would steal out while he was so noisily in the neighborhood . And so he watched the night through , till the morning broke and sunshine flooded the window of the room where Starr , unconscious of his vigil , lay a-sleeping .