one o'clock in the morning
It was no easy matter to keep order . One of the police sergeants accustomed to ceremonial functions remarked to one of his younger colleagues : `` I have seen balls and receptions enough ! Well , my boy , this Thomery affair is as fine a set out as if it were at the President 's ! '' Although it was one o'clock in the morning , both on the boulevard Malesherbes and at the entrance to the rue de Monceau there was movement and activity . If , as seemed likely , there was a crush in the great reception-rooms of the Thomery mansion , it was certain that outside the crowd had to form up in line to get near the counters , where the wine sellers were serving their customers without a moment 's intermission -- serving them with drinks of every description . Thus there was a hubbub , there was noise and roystering clamour all around . Most of the chauffeurs , coachmen , and servants knew one another .