ten o'clock
I wonder , oh I wonder , if they will ever see me and cheer me , driving by his side ? '' She had chosen to wear the white dress with the pearls , though up to the last moment the Grand Duchess had suffered tortures of indecision between that and the blue , to say nothing of a pink chiffon trimmed with crushed roses . Before the carriage brought them to the palace doors , the girl 's blush had faded , and her face was as white as her gown when at her mother 's side she passed between bowing lackeys through the marble Hall of Lions , on through the frescoed Rittersaal to the throne room where the Emperor 's guests awaited his coming . It was etiquette not to arrive a moment later than ten o'clock ; and a few minutes after the hour Baron von Lyndal , in his official capacity as Grand Master of Ceremonies , struck the polished floor twice with his gold-knobbed wand of ivory . This signaled the approach of the court from the Imperial dinner party , and Leopold entered , with a stout , middle-aged Royal Highness from Russia on his arm . Until his arrival the beautiful Miss Mowbray had held all eyes ; and even when he appeared , she was not forgotten . Every one was on tenter hooks to see how she would be greeted by the grateful Emperor .