midnight
`` But I lost no time then in trying to piece together the details of the scheme . It was action that was needed now . So , just as silently and cautiously as I had descended , I climbed back again by my rope and regained the battlements . I paused just for a moment to listen to the sweeping chords of the zither , played by no unskilled hand , and to the rich notes of the woman 's voice swelling into the midnight air . Then I gathered the rope in my arms , and sought the sleeping quarters of my grandfather . `` The old Tiger of the Pathans , as I knew well , was prepared to be aroused at any hour of the night . Even his tulwar was buckled to his belt when , in answer to my summons , he stepped forth into the outer chamber .