midnight
It seems so certain that the voice that sings so tenderly is speaking to them individually . Music is such a fleeting , passionate thing that a woman takes it all to herself ; how could he sing like that for anyone else ? And yet there is always someone for whom he does really pour out his heart , and all the rest are the dolls of life , to be looked at and admired for their dress and complexion , and to laugh at when the fancy takes him to laugh ; but not to love . At midnight Nino was at his post , but he waited long and patiently for a sign . It was past two , and he was thinking it hopeless to wait longer , when his quick ear caught the sound of a window moving on its hinges , and a moment later something fell at his feet with a sharp , metallic click . The night was dark and cloudy , so that the waning moon gave little light . He picked up the thing and found a small pocket handkerchief wrapped about a minute pair of scissors , apparently to give it weight .