half past ten
But with the Turks , these pashas , beys , and effendis , I had much more trouble , and I must have happened often to fall on a wrong pronunciation ; for M. Jansoulet , on two separate occasions , sent word to me to pay more attention to the names that were given to me , and especially to announce in a more natural manner . This remark , uttered aloud before the whole vestibule with a certain roughness , annoyed me greatly , and prevented me -- shall I confess it ? -- from pitying this rich _ parvenu _ when I learned , in the course of the evening , what cruel thorns lay concealed in his bed of roses . From half past ten until midnight the bell was constantly ringing , carriages rolling up under the portico , guests succeeding one another , deputies , senators , councillors of state , municipal councillors , who looked much rather as though they were attending a meeting of shareholders than an evening-party of society people . What could account for this ? I had not succeeded in finding an explanation , but a remark of the beadle Nicklauss opened my eyes . `` Do you notice , M. Passajon , '' said that worthy henchman , as he stood opposite me , halberd in hand , `` do you notice how few ladies we have ? ''