twelve o'clock
On the days when public audience is given , the humblest person is admitted without difficulty , and nothing is expected from him except that he will appear as clean and whole as possible , no matter how shabby he may be . The people are well aware of this and , at every opportunity , profit by the facility afforded to reach the king ; there are persons who go to the monarch with a matter which , in other countries , a village magistrate would decide without farther appeal . So Panna left her carriage at a peasant tavern outside of the city , and went on foot directly to the castle at Ofen . The audience began at twelve o'clock , and it still lacked half an hour of this time . Panna passed through the outer door unrestrained , and was first asked what she desired by a guard on duty at the foot of the staircase leading to the royal apartments . Panna answered fearlessly that she was going to the audience , and the guardsman kindly showed her the way . At the head of the stairs another official met her with the same query , and she gave the same reply .