midnight
And I could do it , too , when I was half-drunk . '' Was that the devil , chuckling joyous to himself across the bog ? No , only an innocent little snipe , getting merry over the change of weather , bleating to his companions as though breeding time were come round again . Crowd close , little snipes , among the cup-moss and wolf 's - foot , for he who stalks past you over the midnight moor , meditates a foul and treacherous murder in his heart . Yes , it had come to that , and so quickly . He would get this man Lee , who held his life in his hand , and was driving him on from crime to crime , to meet him alone on the moor if he could , and shoot him . What surety had he that Lee would leave him in peace after this next extortion ?