midnight
`` Is it long since any one lodged here ? '' asked Albert , looking around the room . `` A Herr von Berger was the last ; he died on that very bed seven years ago : God be merciful to his soul ! He appeared to be fond of this place , for he often rises from his coffin at midnight to visit his old quarters . '' `` How ? '' said Albert , smiling , `` has he been seen since his death ? '' The old man looked fearfully around the room , now faintly lighted by the dying embers of the fire : he put another log on , and murmured , `` Ah , many strange stories are about . ''