midnight
One of Zene 's stories became vivid . It was a story of a house where nobody could stay , though the landlord offered it rent-free . But along came two good youths without any money , and for board and lodging , they undertook to break the spell by sleeping there three nights . The first two nights they were not disturbed , and sat with their candle , reading good books until after midnight . But the third , just on the stroke of twelve , a noise began in the cellar ! So they took their candle , and , armed with nothing except good books , went below , and in the furthest corner they saw a little old man with a red nightcap on his head , sitting astride of a barrel ! In Zene 's story the little old man only had it on his mind to tell these good youths where to dig for his money ; and when they had secured the money , he amiably disappeared , and the house was pleasant to live in ever afterward .