midnight
The old man 's eyes were bloodshot ; excitement had so wrought upon his whole nervous system that he trembled from head to foot , and when he rose from the triclinium he gripped the arm with such force that the ivory sphinx remained in his hand . `` Slaves , bring torches ! '' he shouted loudly , forgetting that he usually spoke with asthmatic panting . `` Let us go to rest , Manlius ; it is long past midnight . May you dream of your love as I shall of my hate . '' He left the pavilion as he spoke , and moved firmly , with head erect , through the long garden to his villa , without remembering that he could not walk a step on account of his gout . The slaves pushed his empty chair behind him .