half past eight
`` Very well , then , '' she said at last , `` I will go . '' It appeared that any civil person might go to the reunion who chose to pay two florins and a half . There must have been some sort of restriction , and the ladies of Burnamy 's party went with a good deal of amused curiosity to see what the distinctions were ; but they saw none unless it was the advantages which the military had . The long hall over the bathrooms shaped itself into a space for the dancing at one end , and all the rest of it was filled with tables , which at half past eight were crowded with people , eating , drinking , and smoking . The military enjoyed the monopoly of a table next the rail dividing the dancing from the dining space . There the tight-laced Herr Hauptmanns and Herr Lieutenants sat at their sausage and beer and cigars in the intervals of the waltzes , and strengthened themselves for a foray among the gracious Fraus and Frauleins on the benches lining three sides of the dancing-space . From the gallery above many civilian spectators looked down upon the gayety , and the dress-coats of a few citizens figured among the uniforms .