midnight
The king left the hall , leaning on Earl Douglas 's arm . `` Earl Douglas does not wish me to accompany the king , '' whispered John Heywood . `` He is afraid the king might blab out to me a little of that diabolical work which they will commence at midnight . Well , I call the devil , as well as the king , my brother , and with his help I too will be in the green-room at midnight . Ah , the queen is retiring ; and there is the Duke of Norfolk leaving the hall . I have a slight longing to see whether the duke goes hence luckily and without danger , or if the soldiers who stand near the coach , as Wriothesley says , will perchance be the duke 's bodyguard for this night . '' Slipping out of the hall with the quickness of a cat , John Heywood passed the duke in the anteroom and hurried on to the outer gateway , before which the carriages were drawn up .