midnight
Now it was dark and she was lying back on a divan , faint , helpless . The voice of the Prince was in her ears and he was bending over her ; his eyes were crossed ... . Ah , the clock was striking ! It was midnight and someone had opened the door ! Someone was crossing the room and bending over papers on the desk ! ... There was the sound of a shot ! She was holding the pistol in her hand ... It was smoking and through the vapoury wreathes she saw on the floor a body lying ... a man on his face with his arms outstretched !