midnight
Out from under the apparently drooping and senseless eyelids of the idiot , a quick thoughtful glance was turned upon her at every motion she made , but she knew it not , nor did she turn towards the boy at all , while he still swung steadily as though he had been bound by cords to the tree . Once more she started , but it was a false alarm . The notes she had heard were those of an instrument , played by some favorite of the harem , who looked forth upon the night scene , and coupled its charms with the notes of her lute . -- But this too soon died away , and again Komel breathed quick and anxiously as she sat there at midnight . The guard on his rounds came past now , and she assumed a quiet and careless air to avoid notice , while a soldier cast a wondering eye at the idiot boy , and then strode on , with the barrel of his carbine resting lazily in the hollow of his arm . At this moment there swelled forth upon the night air the note of that well remembered song . It was the preconcerted signal , and springing to her feet , Komel stole quickly to that part of the seraglio wall nearest the water .