five o’clock in the evening
`` I can make nothing of this , '' remarked little Postel to his wife -LRB- they had come out to hear the band play -RRB- . `` Why , the prefect and the receiver-general , and the colonel and the superintendent of the powder factory , and our mayor and deputy , and the headmaster of the school , and the manager of the foundry at Ruelle , and the public prosecutor , M. Milaud , and all the authorities , have just gone in ! '' The bank struck up as they sat down to table with variations on the air _ Vive le roy , vive la France _ , a melody which has never found popular favor . It was then five o'clock in the evening ; it was eight o'clock before dessert was served . Conspicuous among the sixty-five dishes appeared an Olympus in confectionery , surmounted by a figure of France modeled in chocolate , to give the signal for toasts and speeches . `` Gentlemen , '' called the prefect , rising to his feet , `` the King ! the rightful ruler of France !