midnight
It was the groan of the City of Delight in mortal anguish . `` This , '' he said in a soft voice touching his breast , `` or that , '' motioning toward the dying city . `` Choose . And by midnight ! '' While she stood , gazing at him transfixed with the horror of her predicament , there was the sweeping of garments , the soft tinkle of pendants as they struck together , and Salome , the actress , was beside the pair . Close at hand was Amaryllis . The Greek showed for the first time discomfiture and an inability to rise to the demand of the occasion .