midnight
Let us leave them there , since no words , except those of paradise unknown to us , would describe their delightful agonies , and agonising delights . Meanwhile , the husband , so well cuckolded that all memory of marriage had been swept away by love , -- the said Avenelles found himself in a great fix . To the council of the Huguenots came the Prince of Conde , accompanied by all the chiefs and bigwigs , and there it was resolved to carry off the queen-mother , the Guises , the young king , the young queen , and to change the government . This becoming serious , the advocate seeing his head at stake , did not feel the ornaments being planted there , and ran to divulge the conspiracy to the cardinal of Lorraine , who took the rogue to the duke , his brother , and all three held a consultation , making fine promises to the Sieur Avenelles , whom with the greatest difficulty they allowed , towards midnight , to depart , at which hour he issued secretly from the castle . At this moment the pages of the gentleman and all his people were having a right jovial supper in honour of the fortuitous wedding of their master . Now , arriving at the height of the festivities , in the middle of the intoxication and joyous huzzahs , he was assailed with jeers , jokes , and laughter that turned him sick when he came into his room . The poor servant wished to speak , but the advocate promptly planted a blow in her stomach , and by a gesture commanded her to be silent .