midnight
If ever he thought that anyone might have a claim upon him , he took the first opportunity to show him the gulf that lay between . I saluted and was silent , but I must confess to you that it hurt me after all that had passed between us . He led on to the palace , where we passed through the side door and up into his own cabinet . There were a couple of grenadiers at the staircase , and their eyes started out from under their fur caps , I promise you , when they saw a young lieutenant of hussars going up to the Emperor 's room at midnight . I stood by the door , as I had done in the afternoon , while he flung himself down in an arm-chair , and remained silent so long that it seemed to me that he had forgotten all about me . I ventured at last upon a slight cough to remind him . ` Ah , Monsieur Gerard , ' said he , ` you are very curious , no doubt , as to the meaning of all this ? '