midnight
As for Monsieur de Sainfoy , his brain must certainly have given way . The poor governess hoped little from him , though he showed some method in his madness by leaving her locked up in the chapel when they all went away and telling her to wait there in silence till he came back . At least that was better than being forced to go down alone to announce this catastrophe to Hélène 's mother . The Comtesse would have been capable of turning her out into midnight darkness after the first dozen words . Hélène , her dearest wish and wildest dream fulfilled in this strange fashion , seemed to be walking in her sleep . She obeyed her father 's orders without a word to him or to Angelot , threw on a cloak , and followed them and the Curé down the steep blackness of the winding stairs . At the door her father put out his light , and it was his hand that guided her through the long grass and bushes in the moat , while Angelot gave all his care to the old priest .