midnight
said Debray . `` No more so than all these African heroes -- for instance , Cavaignac and Lamoricière . '' `` But what a splendid contrast there is between the young Colonel of the Spahis and his lovely bride , if such she be ! He , dark as a Corsican ; she , fair as an Englishwoman -- he , upright as a poplar ; she , drooping like a willow -- his hair and eyes black as midnight , while her soft , languishing orbs are as blue as the summer sky , and her glossy ringlets as brown as a chestnut ! '' `` On my word , '' said Beauchamp , `` the Count grows poetical ! Morrel had better keep his beautiful wife out of the way ! But have you discovered who are the other couple in the box ? ''