five o'clock
The young count , a perfect Apollo , with classically-cut features , did not fail to produce an impression upon Eugenie , a proud , black-eyed brunette , the only daughter of the millionnaire Danglars ; and as the millions of the father , in conjunction with the peculiar beauty of the daughter , began to interest the count , it was not long before they thought of marriage . Danglars , who had been a heavy loser in certain speculations of which the public was ignorant , hoped to rehabilitate himself with the millions of his prospective son-in-law , and therefore there was nothing to prevent the marriage of the proud Eugenie and the handsome Andrea . One July evening , representatives of the high financial society , and a few members of the aristocracy , were invited to Danglars ' house to witness the signing of the marriage contract of the only daughter of the house with the Italian , Count Andrea Cavalcanti , of the princely house of Cavalcanti . At five o'clock , when the guests arrived , they found all the rooms in the mansion brilliant with wax-lights . The bride was simply yet tastefully attired : a white satin dress trimmed with lace of the same color ; a single white rose , which was half hidden in her raven black hair , formed the only ornament of the young lady , whose jewels , it was well known , represented a fortune . The young count was surrounded by representatives of the gilded youth , who give the tone in the Jockey Club , and are the recognized authorities for all Europe in questions of taste , fashion , and sport . Baron Danglars was the centre of a group of bankers , to whom he developed his celebrated projects which had increased his millions , taking good care , however , not to mention his losses .