midnight
The innermost crypt contained the altars . This was the sanctuary , the holy of holies , never entered except by a hierarch . When Kenkenes reached the final threshold he paused . Thus far , his presence had been merely a midnight intrusion . If he entered the sanctuary his coming would be violation . He thought of the distress of Rachel and dared . The first alabaster altar glistened suddenly out of the night like a bank of snow .