about nine o'clock in the evening
`` But then , '' she added , with a forced smile , `` it may be better so ; for if I were to suddenly believe in happiness , after more than fifty years of sorrow and misery , I would surely go mad . And upon my word , it would not surprise me , '' she concluded bitterly , `` it would be just my luck . '' Five years had glided by since the eventful incidents related in the preceding chapters , and another anniversary of the Versailles disaster had been added to the list . It was about nine o'clock in the evening , and a tall , slender brunette , of elegant form and figure , whose beautiful face expressed intelligence and firmness both , was giving the finishing touches to a dazzling toilette . She was assisted in this serious and important occupation by two skillful maids , one of whom was clasping a necklace of large , sparkling diamonds around the white throat of her charming mistress , while the other adjusted a magnificent diadem of the same precious stones on the raven black hair . The choice of these diamonds had evidently been made after much deliberation , for a number of jewel cases , containing pearls , rubies , and other precious ornaments of enormous value , still lay open on a toilet table near by . One of the maids , being much older than her companion , and having been in the service of her mistress for many years , seemed to enjoy a certain degree of familiarity near the countess -- who was a Russian as well as herself -- which permitted her many observations not usually tolerated from her class .