eleven o'clock
I can not recall distinctly the events of the evening . I have a confused impression of lights , flowers , music , and people , much like any other party , yet with certain differences . The dressing was not in particularly good taste , and the German was managed in a most extraordinary manner . At eleven o'clock the man who was to lead it came forward with a hat containing scraps of paper . I noticed that all the men went up and drew a slip of paper . They examined it , and retired into the crowd . I could n't imagine what this ceremony meant , and felt sure that when my turn came I should make some frightful blunder .