midnight
`` The tri-night hour -LSB- 21 -RSB- is here . '' He removed his mask ; his face was grave , but a slight smile curved his thin lips . `` Let us see ourselves now as we really are . '' -LSB- Footnote 21 : Half-way between midnight and dawn . -RSB- He slipped his robe from his shoulders and stood in his festive costume . For so slight a man , I was surprised at the strength of him . Bands of gold-metal encircled his naked torso ; a broad girdle of purple cloth hung from his waist .