ten o'clock
The pavilion had been built and was being hung with gaily painted bannerets to give the effect of the Colosseum as seen at sunset . A covered corridor connecting the theatre with the house was being lined with immense hydrangeas and lit from the roof by lamps that resembled stars . A few days before the day fixed for the event Alma , who had been too much occupied to see me every day in the boudoir to which I confined myself , came up to give me my instructions . The entertainment was to begin at ten o'clock . I was to be dressed as Cleopatra and to receive my guests in the drawing-room . At the sound of a fanfare of trumpets I was to go into the theatre preceded by a line of pages , and accompanied by my husband . After we had taken our places in a private box a great ballet , brought specially from a London music-hall , was to give a performance lasting until midnight .