midnight
And was it a like attraction on thy part , or the mysterious influence that now guided all thy movements , which induced thee at midnight to enter the Riverola gardens again , that thou mightest be , as it were , upon the same spot where she dwelt , and scent the fragrance of the same flowers that perfumed the atmosphere which she breathed ? Oh ! doubtless it was that mysterious influence ; for thou hast now that power within thee which made thee strong to resist all the blandishments of the siren , and to prefer the welfare of thine own soul to aught in this world beside ! We said , then , at the commencement of this chapter that Fernand entered the Riverola gardens shortly after midnight . But scarcely had he crossed the iron railings , turned into the nearest path formed by shrubs and evergreens , when he was startled by hearing another person enter the grounds in the same unceremonious manner . Fernand accordingly stood aside in the deep shade of the trees ; and in a few moments a figure , muffled like himself in a cloak , passed him rapidly by . Wagner was debating in himself what course he should pursue -- for he feared that some treachery was intended toward Nisida -- when to his boundless surprise , he heard the mysterious visitant say in a low tone .