about midnight
Toward evening the tents were erected . In the largest of these Pinocchio gave a supper to all the ministers , -- a splendid supper which lasted till late that night . A blazing fire protected the court against the attacks of wild animals and the cold of the night . The ministers retired about midnight . Pinocchio , left alone , began to walk up and down in his tent , with his hands behind him and his head lowered . He had seen at school a picture of the great Napoleon in the same attitude . He thought of his stay in Africa , and of the strange things which had befallen him .