nine
o’clock
The royalists said that they were the imps of the devil , who , finding an empty convent , and fearing no further danger from holy water , were boldly holding their revels where once they had not dared show a claw . One fact , however , left everything uncertain . Not one of the believers or unbelievers -- whether he elected for the souls of the martyred monks or for the Witches ' Sabbath of Beelzebub -- had ever had the courage to venture among the shadows , and to seek during the solemn hours of night confirmation of the truth , in order to tell on the morrow whether the Chartreuse were haunted , and if haunted by whom . But doubtless these tales , whether well founded or not , had no influence over our mysterious horseman ; for although , as we have said , nine o'clock had chimed from the steeples of Bourg , and night had fallen , he reined in his horse in front of the great portal of the deserted monastery , and , without dismounting , drew a pistol from his holster , striking three measured blows with the butt on the gate , after the manner of the Freemasons . Then he listened . For an instant he doubted if the meeting were really there ; for though he looked closely and listened attentively , he could perceive no light , nor could he hear a sound . Still he fancied he heard a cautious step approaching the portal from within .