seven o’clock precisely
Useless to tell you that I am your friend Comte Halphertius , who , having no house in Paris , gives this dinner at yours . Mind that everything is done in the best taste . '' In designating Bixiou to his aunt as the recruiting-officer of the dinner , Vautrin knew that through the universality of his relations with writing , singing , designing , eating , living , and squirming Paris , no one was as capable as he of spreading the news of the dinner broadcast . At seven o'clock precisely all the guests named by Desroches to Maxime , plus Desroches himself , were assembled in the salon of the rue de Provence , when the Negro footman opened the door and announced Sir Francis Drake and his Excellency the Comte Halphertius . The dress of the Swedish nobleman was correct to the last degree , -- black coat , white cravat , and white waistcoat , on which glowed the ribbon of an order hanging from his neck ; the rest of his decorations were fastened to his coat by chainlets . At the first glance which he cast upon the company , Vautrin had the annoyance of beholding that Jacqueline 's habits and instincts had been more potent than his express order , -- for a species of green and yellow turban surmounted her head in a manner which he felt to be ridiculous ; but thanks to the admirable manner in which the rest of his programme had been carried out , the luckless coiffure was forgiven . As for Signora Luigia , dressed in black , which was customary with her , and having had the good sense to reject the services of a _ coiffeur _ , she was royally beautiful .