midnight
I immediately had my bills circulated , which announced me to be both physician and merchant . Scarcely had I opened my shop when I was besieged by buyers , and in spite of my high prices I sold more than any one else , because I was obliging and friendly towards my customers . Thus I had already lived four days happily in Florence , when one evening , as I was about to close my vaulted room , and on examining once more the contents of my ointment boxes , as I was in the habit of doing , I found in one of the small boxes a piece of paper , which I did not remember to have put into it . I unfolded the paper , and found in it an invitation to be on the bridge which is called Ponto Vecchio that night exactly at midnight . I was thinking for a long time as to who it might be who had invited me there ; and not knowing a single soul in Florence , I thought perhaps I should be secretly conducted to a patient , a thing which had already often occurred . I therefore determined to proceed thither , but took care to gird on the sword which my father had once presented to me . When it was close upon midnight I set out on my journey , and soon reached the Ponte Vecchio .