midnight
Florence was in mourning . A spell had fallen upon the City of Flowers ; her streets were deserted ; and within the houses , those who possessed wealth were busily engaged in concealing their gold and jewels in cellars , holes dug in the ground , or at the bottom of wells . The general consternation was terrific indeed ; and the solemn stillness which prevailed throughout the town so lately full of animation and happiness was even more dreadful than that which had accompanied the plague two centuries before . It was near midnight when messengers from the grand vizier , who was now within three miles ' march of the city , arrived at the western gate , and demanded admission , that they might obtain an immediate audience of the duke . The request was directly complied with , and the envoys were conducted to the palazzo , where the prince immediately assembled the council of state to receive them , himself presiding . The audience was in other respects strictly private ; but the nature of the interview was soon proved to have been most unexpectedly pacific ; for two hours after the reception of the envoys , criers proceeded throughout the city , proclaiming the joyful news that the grand vizier had of his own accord proposed such terms as the council of state had not hesitated to accept . Thus , at two o'clock in the morning , were the Florentines at first alarmed by hearing the monotonous voices of the criers breaking upon the solemn stillness ; but their fear changed into gladness ineffable , ere those functionaries had uttered a dozen words of the proclamation which they were intrusted to make .