midnight
`` You are the prettiest thing in all this world , '' she ecstatically whispered into Beverly 's ear . `` My brother says so , too , '' she added conclusively . Beverly was too true a woman not to revel in this subtle flattery . The great banquet hall was to be thrown open at midnight . There was dancing and song during the hours leading up to this important event . Beverly was entranced . She had seen brilliant affairs at home , but none of them compared to this in regal splendor .