midnight
`` Guillot is defiant , '' Peter replied . `` He has been here only this evening . He mocks at me . He swears that he will bring off this enterprise , whatever it may be , before midnight to-night , and he has defied me to stop him . '' `` But you will , '' she murmured , softly . Peter smiled . The conviction in his wife 's tone was a subtle compliment which he did not fail to appreciate .