midnight
Is it not rather Garrigou 's bell ? that mad little bell which is shaken at the altar foot with an infernal impetuosity that seems all the time to be saying : `` Come , let us make haste , make haste ... . The sooner we shall have finished , the sooner shall we be at table . '' The fact is that every time this devil 's bell tinkles the chaplain forgets his mass , and thinks of nothing but the midnight repast . He fancies he sees the cooks bustling about , the stoves glowing with forge-like fires , the two magnificent turkeys , filled , crammed , marbled with truffles ... . Then again he sees , passing along , files of little pages carrying dishes enveloped in tempting vapours , and with them he enters the great hall now prepared for the feast . Oh delight !