eight
at night
Infinity is at times despairingly mute . The old man was trying to analyze the sad and ironical smile with which Simoun had received the news that he was to be arrested . What did that smile mean ? And that other smile , still sadder and more ironical , with which he received the news that they would not come before eight at night ? What did all this mystery signify ? Why did Simoun refuse to hide ? There came into his mind the celebrated saying of St. John Chrysostom when he was defending the eunuch Eutropius : `` Never was a better time than this to say -- Vanity of vanities and all is vanity ! ''