ten o'clock at night
To three bottles with red seals succeeded three bottles with green seals , in the midst of which shortly appeared one which by its neck topped with a silver helmet , was recognized as belonging to the Royal Champagne Regiment -- a fantastic Champagne vintaged by Saint Ouen , and sold in Paris at two francs the bottle as bankrupt 's stock , so the vendor asserted . But it is not the district that makes the wine , and our Bohemians accepted as the authentic growth of Ai the liquor that was served out to them in the appropriate glasses , and despite the scant degree of vivacity shown by the cork in popping from its prison , went into ecstacies over the excellence of the vintage on seeing the quality of the froth . Schaunard summoned up all his remaining self-possession to make a mistake as regards glasses , and help himself to that of Colline , who kept gravely dipping his biscuit in the mustard pot as he explained to Mademoiselle Mimi the philosophical article that was to appear in `` The Beaver . '' All at once he grew pale , and asked leave to go to the window and look at the sunset , although it was ten o'clock at night , and the sun had set long ago . `` It is a pity the Champagne is not iced , '' said Schaunard , again trying to substitute his empty glass for the full one of his neighbor , an attempt this time without success . `` Madame , '' observed Colline , who had ceased to take the fresh air , to Mimi , `` Champagne is iced with ice . Ice is formed by the condensation of water , in Latin aqua .