midnight
Susy 's heart tightened with memories of Como . They wandered on , laughing and dawdling , and yielding to the drifting whims of aimless people . Presently someone proposed taking a nearer look at the facade of San Giorgio Maggiore , and they hailed a gondola and were rowed out through the bobbing lanterns and twanging guitar-strings . When they landed again , Gillow , always acutely bored by scenery , and particularly resentful of midnight aesthetics , suggested a night club near at hand , which was said to be jolly . The Prince warmly supported this proposal ; but on Susy 's curt refusal they started their rambling again , circuitously threading the vague dark lanes and making for the Piazza and Florian 's ices . Suddenly , at a calle-corner , unfamiliar and yet somehow known to her , Susy paused to stare about her with a laugh . `` But the Hickses -- surely that 's their palace ?