midnight
Just at present there were beads of perspiration upon her forehead ; something had gone wrong at the last moment , and so Reggie would have no time to show them the favours , as he had intended . About a hundred and fifty guests were invited to this entertainment . A supper was served at little tables in the great ball-room , and afterward the guests wandered about the house while the tables were whisked out of the way and the room turned into a play-house . A company from one of the Broadway theatres would be bundled into cabs at the end of the performance , and by midnight they would be ready to repeat the performance at Mrs. de Graffenried 's . Montague chanced to be near when this company arrived , and he observed that the guests had crowded up too close , and not left room enough for the actors . So the manager had placed them in a little ante-room , and when Mrs. de Graffenried observed this , she rushed at the man , and swore at him like a dragoon , and ordered the bewildered performers out into the main room . But this was peering behind the scenes , and he was supposed to be watching the play .