five o'clock
It was after midnight that the ball began . I remained only an hour or two , and then went to my rest , but not in my chamber next Count Saxe 's for once . I had not had much sleep for several nights , so I betook myself to the stables , where , upon a pile of oats designed for the morning 's feed , I wrapped myself in my cloak and fell into a deep slumber . I awakened , as always , at five o'clock , and on inquiring of the grooms and stablemen , found that the music at the castle had just ceased . The ball was barely over in time for the stag hunt , which was to take place at sunrise . It was as yet pitchy dark , but the scene of commotion almost equaled the ball , for there were one thousand horses to be fed . However , I rather liked that sort of commotion ; the cheerful stamping and champing , as the horses , a hundred at the time , were led out of their stalls into the sharp December air , with the stars still shining in the blue-black vault of heaven ; the tussle at the great watering troughs , into which fifty men and boys pumped continually ; the fresh smell of the hay , at which the horses sniffed joyfully ; the steady combing and dressing of the creatures -- all going on with a kind of orderly confusion .