eleven o’clock
The heels of those seated at the table disappeared amidst this litter . Reserve was cast aside ; a little sculptor with a pale face climbed upon a chair to harangue the assembly , and a painter , with stiff moustaches under a hook nose , bestrode a chair and galloped , bowing , round the table , in mimicry of the Emperor . Little by little , however , a good many grew tired and went off . At eleven o'clock there were not more than a couple of hundred persons present . Past midnight , however , some more people arrived , loungers in dress-coats and white ties , who had come from some theatre or soiree and wished to learn the result of the voting before all Paris knew it . Reporters also appeared ; and they could be seen darting one by one out of the room as soon as a partial result was communicated to them . Claude , hoarse by now , still went on calling names .