midnight
Upon the evening at which I am now arrived , the twenty-second of January , 1816 , the whole city , in its wealthier classes , was assembled beneath the roof of a tradesman who had the heart of a prince . In every point our entertainment was superb ; and I remarked that the music was the finest I had heard for years . Our host was in joyous spirits ; proud to survey the splendid company he had gathered under his roof ; happy to witness their happiness ; elated in their elation . Joyous was the dance -- joyous were all faces that I saw -- up to midnight , very soon after which time supper was announced ; and that also , I think , was the most joyous of all the banquets I ever witnessed . The accomplished guardsman outshone himself in brilliancy ; even his melancholy relaxed . In fact , how could it be otherwise ? near to him sat Margaret Liebenheim -- hanging upon his words -- more lustrous and bewitching than ever I had beheld her .