midnight
Her abundant diamonds were almost overwhelmed . Every time one of her escort raised his glass to his lips he toasted her , and she rose to respond , presumably to give the company the benefit of the tiny waist that tapered off the white acre above . She was irreverently hooted , but imperturbably rose and fell like a jack-in-the-box . Hofer finally sat down to supper with his guests , but they had barely finished when every clock in town began to boom the midnight hour and there was a wild ringing of bells all over the city . Down-stairs one of the young men ran to the orchestra , whirled the leader from his seat , flung off his own coat , and led the crashing music with a tin horn . Hofer and Gwynne went to the front of the box , glasses in hand . All below had sprung to their feet and were waving and clicking their champagne-glasses , singing , catcalling , tooting , cheering .