half past nine
`` This will never do , '' said Van Twiller . `` Olympe '' -- he called her Olympe , as if she were an old acquaintance , and so she might have been considered by that time -- `` is a wonderful creature ; but this will never do . Van , my boy , you must reform this altogether . '' But half past nine that night saw him in his accustomed orchestra chair , and so on for another week . A habit leads a man so gently in the beginning that he does not perceive he is led -- with what silken threads and down what pleasant avenues it leads him ! By and by the soft silk threads become iron chains , and the pleasant avenues Avernus ! Quite a new element had lately entered into Van Twiller 's enjoyment of Mademoiselle Olympe 's ingenious feats -- a vaguely born apprehension that she might slip from that swinging bar ; that one of the thin cords supporting it might snap , and let her go headlong from the dizzy height .