midnight
As the crowd dispersed Chios joined Nika and her friends , and was greeted with a covert sneer . ` Did we not see thee amongst the unclean ? Shame , good man , to be in such doubtful company ! Soon thou wilt be at their midnight orgies , and come forth an advocate for this pernicious fraud . And who may say but that thou mayest be baptized and paint the Christian martyr in the throes of death by fire or sword , or caged beasts , eh ? -- and sign thy name `` Chios the Christian '' also ? ' ` Come , Chios , put away this melancholy .