midnight
I should be sorry for that , because I know that you are the sister of Gothard , one of the heroes of the Simeuse affair . '' `` Enough , monsieur , '' said the sister of the steward of Cinq-Cygne . After such a beginning , the stranger kept the mistress of the house a whole hour and made her tell him all she knew of Arcis , of its fortunes , its interests , and its functionaries . The next day he disappeared on horseback , followed by his tiger , returning at midnight . We can now understand Mademoiselle Cecile 's little joke , which Madame Beauvisage thought to be without foundation . Beauvisage and Cecile , surprised by the order of the day promulgated by Severine , were enchanted . While his wife went to dress for Madame Marion 's reception , the father listened to the many conjectures it was natural a girl should make in such a case .