midnight
said the Marquis , drawing his chair closer to Pérousse , and speaking in a low uneasy tone ; `` You do not know all ! There is some secret agency at work against us ; and , among other things , I fear that a foreign spy has been inadvertently allowed to learn the mainspring of our principal moves . Listen , and judge for yourself ! '' And he related the story of David Jost 's midnight experience , carefully emphasising every point connected with his own signet-ring . As he proceeded with the narration , Pérousse 's face grew livid , -- once or twice he clenched his hand nervously , but he said nothing till he had heard all . `` Your ring , you say , had never left the King 's possession ? '' `` So the King himself assured me , this very afternoon . ''