midnight
As he recognised me a deep blush rose to his face ; he fancied , perhaps , that he had made a fool of himself overnight . But I offered him my hand with a friendliness which assured him I was not a scoffer . I knew him by his ardent _ chevelure _ ; otherwise he was much altered . His midnight mood was over , and he looked as haggard as an actor by daylight . He was far older than I had supposed , and he had less bravery of costume and gesture . He seemed the quiet , poor , patient artist he had proclaimed himself , and the fact that he had never sold a picture was more obvious than glorious . His velvet coat was threadbare , and his short slouched hat , of an antique pattern , revealed a rustiness which marked it an `` original , '' and not one of the picturesque reproductions which brethren of his craft affect .