eight o'clock
The crossing of filaments occurs oftener than imagined , and Pobloff , knowing these things , had boundless faith in his enterprise . So when he cried aloud , `` I have it ! '' he really believed that at last he saw the way clear ; and his symphonic poem was to be the key which would unlock the great mystery of existence . Rehearsal had been called at eight o'clock , a late hour for Balak , which rises early only to get ready the sooner for the luxury of a long afternoon siesta . The conductor of the Royal Filharmonie Orchestra had sent out brief enough notice to his men ; but they were in the opera house before he arrived . Pobloff believed in discipline ; when he reached the stage , he cast a few quick glances about him : fifty-two men in all sat in their accustomed places ; his concertmaster , Sven , was nodding at the leader . Then Pobloff surveyed the auditorium , its depths dimly lighted by the few clusters of lights on the platform ; white linen coverings made more ghastly the background .