midnight
murmured Adélaïde , considering him with her blue eyes a little coldly . `` Certain , madame ? I suppose it will not occur to you or to Monsieur de Sainfoy to disobey the Emperor ! Why , the order might have arrived to-day -- it certainly will to-morrow -- ah , I mean yesterday or to-day , for midnight is long passed . Yes , but she is a detestable mixture , that daughter of yours , Madame la Comtesse , and it would take all my courage to venture on such a wife , without your encouragement . Cold as ice , as stately as an old queen of France -- upon my soul , it needs a brave man to face the possibilities of such a ménage . But I suppose she is timid with it all -- eh ?