about midnight
The first question I asked myself , when I had blown out the candle , was , Are there fat wethers enough in my flock to pay for the cream-noses ? Then I asked , How many fat wethers will it take at the price Don Sebastian -- a miserly cheat be it said in passing -- offers me a head for them to make up the amount I require ? `` That was the question ; but , you see , friends , I could not answer it . At length , about midnight , I resolved to light the candle and get an ear of maize ; for by putting the grains into small heaps , each heap the price of a wether , then counting the whole , I could get to know what I wanted . `` The idea was good . I was feeling under my pillow for the matches to strike a light when I suddenly remembered that all the grain had been given to the poultry . No matter , said I to myself , I have been spared the trouble of getting out of bed for nothing .