midnight
Shouts of laughter went up from the assembled group at his mishap , and the orator retired in disgust . Robert Stevens was more amused than any other person at the manner in which Giles Peram had terminated his speech . He went home and told his sister , who laughed as much as he did . That night , near midnight , Robert was awakened from a sound sleep by some one tapping on his window lattice . He rose , at first hardly able to believe his senses ; but the moon was shining quite brightly , and he distinctly saw the outline of a man standing outside his window , and there came a tapping unquestionably intended to wake him . `` Who are you ? '' he asked , going to the window .