midnight
His enemies salute it to-night . They pass into the upper ballroom . They are met to dance a new year in , and the garrison band is playing a waltz of Strauss 's -- `` Die guten alten Zeiten . '' So dance follows dance , and the hours fly by to midnight -- outside , the moon in chase past the clouds and over fields and wastes of snow -- inside , the feet of dancers warming to their work under the clustered lights . But on the stroke of midnight a waltz ceases suddenly . From the lower ballroom the high , clear note of a trumpet rings out , silencing the music of the bandsmen . A panel has flown open there and a trumpeter steps forth blowing a call which , as it dies away , is answered by a skirl of pipes and tapping of drums from a remote corner of the barracks .