midnight
And at her given moment the star performer made a dramatic entry into the midst of them , a cloak of pale blue brocade thrown over her scanty dress and her plumes still tossing from the elaborately tousled head . They greeted her with hand-clapping and laughter , and she held out her thin arms , embracing them as old friends . In her attitude and in her eyes which passed rapidly from one to another , there was good-humoured understanding . She knew probably what the more immaculate among them thought of her , and that they were there to boast about it as English people boast of having visited Montmartre at midnight . It was daring and amusing to be at this woman 's notorious dinners . They thought they patronized her , whatever else they knew . But in reality the joke was on her side . ''