midnight
The king looked gravely at Bent-Anat and the young priest ; the eyes of all the company were eagerly fixed on the princess and the poet . The king seemed to have forgotten the presence of strangers , and to be wholly absorbed in thought , but by degrees a change came over his face , it cleared , as a landscape is cleared from the morning mists under the influence of the spring sunshine . When he looked up again his glance was bright and satisfied , and Bent-Anat knew what it promised when it lingered lovingly first on her , and then on her friend , whose head was still graced by the wreath that had crowned hers . At last Rameses turned from the lovers , and said to the guests : `` It is past midnight , and I will now leave you . To-morrow evening I bid you all -- and you especially , Pentaur -- to be my guests in this banqueting hall . Once more fill your cups , and let us empty them -- to a long time of peace after the victory which , by the help of the Gods , we have won . And at the same time let us express our thanks to my friend Ani , who has entertained us so magnificently , and who has so faithfully and zealously administered the affairs of the kingdom during my absence . ''