ten o'clock
Old Saracinesca would gladly have left his son with the hostess , but the thing was evidently impossible . The manners of the time would not allow it , and the result was that the Prince spent the evening in making conversation for two rather indifferent listeners . He tried to pick a friendly quarrel with Giovanni , but the latter was too absent-minded even to be annoyed ; he tried to excite the Duchessa 's interest , but she only smiled gently , making a remark from time to time which was conspicuous for its irrelevancy . But old Saracinesca was in a good humour , and he bore up bravely until ten o'clock , when Corona gave the signal for retiring . They were to start very early in the morning , she said , and she must have rest . When the two men were alone , the Prince turned upon his son in semi-comic anger , and upbraided him with his obstinate dulness during the evening . Giovanni only smiled calmly , and shrugged his shoulders .