midnight
BOOK III The executive mansion was strewn with the wreckage of the inaugural reception . A musky odor blent of plant life and massed humanity hung thickly throughout the spacious rooms and corridors ; the bower of palms and flowery brightness at the foot of the great staircase , which had fended the orchestra , and incidentally barred an intrusive if sovereign people from the private apartments , was jostled and awry , its blossoms half despoiled ; here lay a trampled glove , there a shining shred of braid , beyond an embarrassed cigar stump -- dumb emblems of social Albany , gold-laced officialdom , and the unaristocratic unofficial ruck , whose mingled tide had beat upon the new governor 's threshold in the late hours of the afternoon . A clock somewhere about the scene of devastation chimed midnight , and a man with attractive black eyes , who had been monopolizing his hostess upward of two hours , outstaying all other guests save one , now took his belated leave . `` Yes ; I prophesy a brilliant season , Mrs. Shelby , '' he said . `` With a woman of your talents in this house , Albany must at last awake . '' Cora Shelby returned to one of the smaller reception rooms , where an open fire wrought changing shadows in the face of the Hon. Seneca Bowers .