midnight
Her attitude to him now was that of a young sovereign , who airily bids her lover wait until she is ready to marry him ; but Madame Riano 's departure might change all that . I had not the least doubt , if Francezka were compelled to make instant choice of a husband , that Gaston Cheverny would be the man . On the other hand , Madame Riano 's remaining might change Gaston Cheverny , for he was not the stuff out of which patient lovers are made . At midnight we said adieu . The last sight we had of Francezka was as she stood on the balcony of the red saloon , waving her white scarf in farewell to us . She wore a white gown , and a great resplendent moon overhead bathed her in its silvery radiance . She might have been an angel alighting upon the earth and ready to wing her way back to heaven with the dawn of day .