midnight
And this Achmed had good cause to remember , for then it was that he ascended the throne . And now he , in his turn , descended from the throne , and now that had happened to him for his successor 's sake which had happened to his predecessor for his sake . * * * * * But the great men of the realm bowed their heads to the ground before Sultan Mahmud and did him homage . The long procession of those who came to do him obeisance filled all the apartments of the Seraglio and lasted till midnight . The whole Court bent head and knee before the new Sultan , and the chief officers of state , the clergy , and the eunuchs followed suit . Only the captains of the host and Halil Patrona still remained behind . Hastily written letters were dispatched to all the captains and to all the rebels , informing them that Sultan Achmed had been deposed and Sultan Mahmud was reigning in his stead ; let them all come , therefore , at dawn of day next morning and do homage to the new Padishah .