midnight
But with the Turks , the pachas and beys and effendis , I had much more difficulty , and I must often have pronounced them awry , for M. Jansoulet , on two different occasions , sent word to me to pay more attention to the names given me , and especially to announce them more naturally . That command , uttered in a loud voice at the door of the reception-room with unnecessary brutality , annoyed me exceedingly , and prevented me -- shall I confess it ? -- from pitying the vulgar parvenu when I learned , during the evening , what sharp thorns had found their way into his bed of roses . From half-past ten till midnight the bell did not cease to ring , the carriages to rumble under the porch , the guests to follow on one another 's heels , deputies , senators , councillors of state , municipal councillors , who acted much more as if they were attending a meeting of shareholders than an evening party in society . What did it all mean ? I could not succeed in puzzling it out , but a word from Nicklauss the door-keeper opened my eyes . `` Do you notice , Monsieur Passajon , '' said that worthy retainer , standing in front of me , halberd in hand , `` do you notice how few ladies we have ? ''