midnight
`` This venison is delicious ; none was ever better served . The Roman Senators debated the question how a turbot should be cooked , and the author of this dish deserves a place among such . `` Montmaur is reported to have said that Easter and Christmas were the two best days in the year . Easter because it was farthest from Lent , and Christmas because then you breakfasted at midnight . Who says this is not equal to Montmaur 's Christmas breakfast ? '' This sort of banter , interspersed with songs and stories , was kept up till a late hour , when all of a sudden the keepers awoke to the fact that Malcolm had flown . The visitors laughed heartily .