about eleven o'clock
The night of the 15th of May arrived , and both Salvani and Ticellini were very nervous about the first performance of the `` Queen of Flowers . '' La Luciola was certainly the pet of the public , but the situation at Milan was such that it was a question whether the performance at the Scala would receive any attention . Even the day before , there had been very little call for tickets , and Salvani , who had spared no expense to mount the new opera properly , had awful dreams on the night of the 14th about deficits and bankruptcy . At length , on the morning of the 15th , the demand became heavier , and after a few boxes had been taken , a negro appeared at the box-office about eleven o'clock , and pointed at a pack of tickets . `` Ah -- your master desires a box ? '' asked Salvani , who did not disdain on special days to take charge of the box-office . The negro laughed , so that the impresario could wonder at his white teeth , and shook his head , pointing once more at the tickets .