ten o'clock
The gardens and courts of the palace were brilliantly illuminated ; vast suites of apartments were thrown open , and lavishly decorated with rare flowers ; the grand staircase was lined with footmen in the liveries of the house , standing motionless as the guests passed up ; the supper was a banquet such as is read of in the chronicles of medieval splendour ; the enormous conservatory in the distant south wing was softly lit by shaded candles concealed among the tropical plants ; and the ceilings and walls of the great hall itself had been newly decorated by famous painters ; while the polished wooden floor presented an innovation upon the old-fashioned canvas-covered brick pavement , not hitherto seen in any Roman palace . A thousand candles , disposed in every variety of chandelier and candelabra , shed a soft rich light from far above , and high in the gallery at one end an orchestra of Viennese musicians played unceasingly . As generally happens at very large balls , the dancing began late , but numbers of persons had come early in order to survey the wonders of the palace at their leisure . Among those who arrived soon after ten o'clock was Giovanni Saracinesca , who was greeted loudly by all who knew him . He looked pale and tired , if his tough nature could ever be said to seem weary ; but he was in an unusually affable mood , and exchanged words with every one he met . Indeed he had been sad for so many days that he hardly understood why he felt gay , unless it was in the anticipation of once more seeing the woman he loved . He wandered through the rooms carelessly enough , but he was in reality devoured by impatience , and his quick eyes sought Corona 's tall figure in every direction .