midnight
The old man , his clothing saturated with wet , and with large drops of sea-spray in his grey beard , was conducted into the church , where the nobles with blanched faces concluded the ceremonies connected with the Doge 's public entry . But the people , as well as the seignory , confounded by this unfortunate _ contretemps _ , to which was also added the fact that the Doge , in the hurry and confusion , had been led between the two columns where common malefactors were generally executed , grew silent in the midst of their triumph , and thus the day that had begun in festive fashion ended in gloom and sadness . Nobody seemed to think about the Doge 's rescuer ; nor did Antonio himself think about it , for he was lying in the peristyle of the Ducal Palace , half dead with fatigue , and fainting with the pain caused by his wound , which had again burst open . He was therefore all the more surprised when just before midnight a Ducal halberdier took him by the shoulders , saying , `` Come along , friend , '' and led him into the palace , where he pushed him into the Duke 's chamber . The old man came to meet him with a kindly smile , and said , pointing to a couple of purses lying on the table , `` You have borne yourself bravely , my son . Here ; take these three thousand sequins , and if you want more ask for them ; but have the goodness never to come into my presence again . '' As he said these last words the old man 's eyes flashed with fire , and the tip of his nose grew a darker red Antonio could not fathom the old man 's mind ; he did not , however , trouble himself overmuch about it , but with some little difficulty took up the purses , which he believed he had honestly and rightly earned .