nine
o’clock
The guests were punctual . The dinner , like all commercial dinners , was extremely gay , full of good humor , and enlivened by the rough jests which always raise a laugh . The excellence of the dishes and the goodness of the wines were fully appreciated . It was half-past nine o'clock when the company returned to the salons to take their coffee . A few hackney-coaches had already brought the first impatient dancers . An hour later the rooms were full , and the ball took the character of a rout . Monsieur de Lacepede and Monsieur Vauquelin went away , much to the grief of Cesar , who followed them to the staircase , vainly entreating them to remain .