midnight
Then the maid arrived with a great noise , conducted by servants , chamberlains , grooms , gentlemen , and people of the house of Chaumont , so that you would have imagined her suite to be that of a cardinal legate . So arrived the two spouses the evening before marriage . Then , the feasting over , they were married with great pomp on the Lord 's Day , a mass being said at the castle by the Bishop of Blois , who was a great friend of the lord of Montcontour ; in short , the feasting , the dancing , and the festivities of all sorts lasted till the morning . But on the stroke of midnight the bridesmaids went to put the bride to bed , according to the custom of Touraine ; and during this time they kept quarrelling with the innocent husband , to prevent him going to this innocent wife , who sided with them from ignorance . However , the good lord of Montcontour interrupted the jokers and the wits , because it was necessary that his son should occupy himself in well-doing . Then went the innocent into the chamber of his wife , whom he thought more beautiful than the Virgin Mary painted in Italian , Flemish , and other pictures , at whose feet he had said his prayers . But you may be sure he felt very much embarrassed at having so soon become a husband , because he knew nothing of his business , and saw that certain forms had to be gone through concerning which from great and modest reserve , he had no time to question even his father , who had said sharply to him -- `` You know what you have to do ; be valiant therein . ''