midnight
Her spirits having risen , she was correspondingly impatient of a protracted , oppressive stillness , and looked about for an interruption , and for diversion . Across from her , a celestial patrician in his blouse of purple silk and his red-buttoned cap , sat Fong Wu . Consumed with curiosity -- now that she had time to observe him closely -- she longed to lift the yellow , expressionless mask from his face -- a face which might have patterned that of an oriental sphinx . At midnight , when he approached the table to satisfy himself of Barrett 's progress , and to assure her of it , she essayed a conversation . Glancing up at his laden shelves , she said , `` I have been noticing your medicines , and how many kinds there seem to be . '' `` For each ailment that is visited upon man , earth offers a cure , '' he answered . `` Life would be a mock could Death , unchallenged , take it . ''