midnight before
He sang heartily whatever came into his head ; now a quaint peasant song , again the latest success of the café concert . Alice de Bréville , stretched out in the long chair before the fire , was listening intently . And so with song and story the hands of the tall clock slipped by the hours . It was midnight before we knew it . Again Tanrade played -- this time it was the second act of his new operetta . When he had finished he took his seat beside the woman in the long chair . `` Bravo ! ''