midnight
Alas , for answer there rose the spectre which he had been striving to lay ; the spectre that had for the men of that day so appalling , so shocking a reality . Witchcraft ! The word rang in his brain . Witchcraft would account for this , ay , for all ; for her long submission to vile behests and viler men ; for that which he had heard in this house at midnight ; for that which the Syndic had whispered of Basterga ; for that which he noted in her now ! Would account for it ; ay , but by fixing her with a guilt , not of this world , terrible , abnormal : by fixing her with a love of things vile , unspeakable , monstrous , a love that must deprive her life of all joy , all sweetness , all truth , all purity ! A guilt and a love that showed her thus ! But thus , for a moment only .