seven in the evening
The dishes were of solid silver , the cloth and napkins of the finest linen , the wines the most costly and exquisite . Don Timoteo had sought the most rare and expensive in everything , nor would he have hesitated at crime had he been assured that the Captain-General liked to eat human flesh . `` Danzar sobre un volcán . '' By seven in the evening the guests had begun to arrive : first , the lesser divinities , petty government officials , clerks , and merchants , with the most ceremonious greetings and the gravest airs at the start , as if they were parvenus , for so much light , so many decorations , and so much glassware had some effect . Afterwards , they began to be more at ease , shaking their fists playfully , with pats on the shoulders , and even familiar slaps on the back . Some , it is true , adopted a rather disdainful air , to let it be seen that they were accustomed to better things -- of course they were ! There was one goddess who yawned , for she found everything vulgar and even remarked that she was ravenously hungry , while another quarreled with her god , threatening to box his ears .