midnight
Esther , with the dust of the road washed from her skin , looked very fair , sitting under the light of the lamp , her eyes glowing with the mysterious fires of love and joy , and the two Jews sat listening to her eagerly as she talked to them , telling them the news of her family and friends in Jerusalem . `` If I could only go up to the city , '' sighed the younger man . `` But I can not walk , and I have no horse , '' and he grew sullen and dejected and said no more , while the elder continued to ask and be answered a hundred questions about the life and doings of the city . That night , past midnight , when the whole plain of Jericho lay wrapped in a deep hush , and not one light gleamed in the darkness of the village , a carriage drawn by two foam-covered horses thundered down the last steep descent of the road from Jerusalem into the village , and dashed through it straight to Solomon 's dwelling . Esther , asleep in the upper room , with Nicholas ' head pillowed on her shoulder , heard the clatter of wheels and awoke suddenly , all her body growing rigid with terror . `` Nicholas , awake ! they have followed us ! ''