midnight
Now among the Zu-Vendi it is a common and most harmless thing for young men to serenade ladies at night , as I believe they do in the southern countries of Europe , and sing all sorts of nonsensical songs to them . The young men may or may not be serious ; but no offence is meant and none is taken , even by ladies of the highest rank , who accept the whole thing as an English girl would a gracefully-turned compliment . Availing himself of this custom , Good bethought him that would serenade Sorais , whose private apartments , together with those of her maidens , were exactly opposite our own , on the further side of a narrow courtyard which divided one section of the great palace from another . Accordingly , having armed himself with a native zither , on which , being an adept with the light guitar , he had easily learned to strum , he proceeded at midnight -- the fashionable hour for this sort of caterwauling -- to make night hideous with his amorous yells . I was fast asleep when they began , but they soon woke me up -- for Good possesses a tremendous voice and has no notion of time -- and I ran to my window-place to see what was the matter . And there , standing in the full moonlight in the courtyard , I perceived Good , adorned with an enormous ostrich feather head-dress and a flowing silken cloak , which it is the right thing to wear upon these occasions , and shouting out the abominable song which he and the old gentleman had evolved , to a jerky , jingling accompaniment . From the direction of the quarters of the maids of honour came a succession of faint sniggerings ; but the apartments of Sorais herself -- whom I devoutly pitied if she happened to be there -- were silent as the grave .