eleven at night
The beloved of a highwayman , with a Spanish name , he pictured her as a dark , flashing creature , coarsely opulent and mature . It was evident that she too belonged to the world of rogues and social pirates , and he laughed again as he saw himself , swept back by a turn of fate , into the lives of the outlawed . He must see Pancha Lopez ; she promised to be interesting . A week later , at eleven at night , a large audience was crowding out of the Albion Opera House . If you know San Francisco -- the San Francisco of before the fire -- you will remember the Albion . It stood on one of those thoroughfares that slant from the main stem of Market Street near Lotta 's Fountain . That part of the city is of dubious repute ; questionable back walls look down on the alley that leads to the stage door , and after midnight there is much light of electricity and gas and much unholy noise round its darkened bulk .