about two hours after midnight
`` Yes , sire , since yesterday . '' `` Telegraph hourly to Tomsk , General , and keep me informed of all that occurs . '' `` Sire , it shall be done , '' answered General Kissoff . These words were exchanged about two hours after midnight , at the moment when the fete given at the New Palace was at the height of its splendor . During the whole evening the bands of the Preobra-jensky and Paulowsky regiments had played without cessation polkas , mazurkas , schottisches , and waltzes from among the choicest of their repertoires . Innumerable couples of dancers whirled through the magnificent saloons of the palace , which stood at a few paces only from the `` old house of stones '' -- in former days the scene of so many terrible dramas , the echoes of whose walls were this night awakened by the gay strains of the musicians . The grand-chamberlain of the court , was , besides , well seconded in his arduous and delicate duties .