nine o'clock
`` I am not sure but that the unruffled serenity of your manner before the ladies advances you more in their estimation than does Mr. Jefferson 's evident devotion to them all or my impartial compliments and gallantry . But beware ! Madame de St. André is no woman if she does not try to retaliate for that retort of yours . '' After stopping in the rue Dauphine for the billets , which Madame de Tessé had again been able to obtain for Mr. Morris through the interest of the Duchesse d'Orléans , the three gentlemen drove straight to the Salle des Menus Plaisirs , and , by nine o'clock , were seated in the great gallery reserved for visitors . They were fortunate enough to find themselves placed immediately behind Madame de Chastellux , Madame de St. André , and Madame de Flahaut , who had entered together and who were kind enough to point out for the benefit of Mr. Morris and Calvert many of the celebrities in the glittering assemblage . For , early as the hour was , the great balcony was already crowded , while the floor was slowly filling with the deputies ushered in one after the other by Monsieur de Brézé with the greatest ceremony . No more brilliant throng had ever come together in that spacious Salle des Menus Plaisirs , and assuredly on no more momentous occasion .