midnight
For since it is talking that distinguishes us from other animals , I do not see why I should not make the most of it . But you who are listening to me have seen very little of the Contessina Hedwig as yet , and unless I quickly tell you more , you will wonder how all the curious things that happened to her could possibly have grown out of the attempt of a little singer like Nino to make her acquaintance . Well , Nino is a great singer now , of course , but he was little once ; and when he palmed himself off on the old count for an Italian master without my knowledge , nobody had ever heard of him at all . Therefore since I must satisfy your curiosity before anything else , and not dwell too long on the details -- the dear , commonplace details -- I will simply say that Nino succeeded without difficulty in arranging with the sacristan of the Pantheon to allow a party of foreigners to visit the building at the full moon , at midnight . I have no doubt he even expended a franc with the little man , who is very old and dirty , and keeps chickens in the vestibule -- but no details ! Oh the appointed night Nino , wrapped in that old cloak of mine -LRB- which is very warm , though it is threadbare -RRB- , accompanied the party to the temple , or church , or whatever you like to call it . The party were simply the count and his daughter , an Austrian gentleman of their acquaintance , and the dear baroness -- that sympathetic woman who broke so many hearts and cared not at all for the chatter of the people .