midnight
Such sin as this which he premeditated must remain unrepented , and there would be torment for him for ever . Nevertheless , he must do it . And , after all , did not many of the wise ones of the earth justify him in thinking that that threat was but an old woman 's tale ? Tuesday night came , -- the late hours of Tuesday night , -- the midnight hour at which he was sure that the women were in bed , and the will was taken out from its hiding-place . He had already trimmed the wick and placed the candle on an outspread newspaper , so that no fragment of the ash should fall where it might not be collected . He had walked round the room to make himself sure that no aperture might possibly be open . He put out the candle so as to see that no gleam of light from any source was making its way into the room , and then relighted it .