midnight
what 's that noise ! I 'll be back in an instant , '' said the chevalier , and sprang out of the room to the ball-room , where a scuffle and a noise of high voices was heard . The refreshment room in which Miss Amory now found herself , was a room set apart for the purposes of supper , which Mr. Rincer the landlord had provided for those who chose to partake , at the rate of five shillings per head . Also , refreshments of a superior class were here ready for the ladies and gentlemen of the county families who came to the ball ; but the commoner sort of persons were kept out of the room by a waiter who stood at the portal , and who said that was a select room for Lady Clavering and Lady Rockminster 's parties , and not to be opened to the public till supper-time , which was not to be until past midnight . Pynsent , who danced with his constituents ' daughters , took them and their mammas in for their refreshment there . Strong , who was manager and master of the revels wherever he went , had of course the _ entrée _ -- and the only person who was now occupying the room , was the gentleman with the black wig and the orders in his button-hole ; the officer in the service of his Highness the Nawaub of Lucknow . This gentleman had established himself very early in the evening in this apartment , where , saying he was confoundedly thirsty , he called for a bottle of champagne .