midnight
My window looked upon a garden to the trees and shrubs of which a solemn background was formed by the wall of the Templars ' house . I kept myself very solitary , associating neither with the citizens , nor with the students . The result is that I know nothing about the large city , except the street leading from my house to the Dominican convent , where my great master taught . When I returned to my cell , and had kept awake till midnight by my studying lamp , I sometimes looked out of window to cool my heated eyes by exposure to the deep starry heaven . I then often saw a light in the Templars ' house opposite ; the knights in the white mantles of their order passed along the galleries , like spirits in the glare of red torches , vanished behind the pillars , and re-appeared . In the extreme corner of the wing , curtains were let down before the windows , but through the thinner parts of these a singular light shone , while behind them melodies could be heard , sounding through the night sweetly and solemnly , like forbidden desires . '' ` Thus did my days pass insignificant to outward appearance , but internally a brilliant festival of all sorts of wonders .