three in the morning
He frivolously asked them whether they ever went to the theatre , to which they replied very coldly that they went to their boxes when the piece was not on the Index and when there was no ballet . Orsino understood why he never saw them at the opera , and relapsed into silence . The butler , a son of the legendary Pasquale of earlier days , did his best to cheer the youngest of his masters with a great variety of wines ; but Orsino would not be comforted either by very dry champagne or very mellow claret . But he vowed a bitter revenge and swore to dance till three in the morning at the Montevarchi 's and finish the night with a rousing baccarat at the club , which projects he began to put into execution as soon as was practicable . In due time the guests departed , solemnly renewing their expressions of good wishes , and the Saracinesca household was left to itself . The old prince stood before the fire in the state drawing-room , rubbing his hands and shaking his head . Giovanni and Corona sat on opposite sides of the fireplace , looking at each other and somewhat inclined to laugh .