the hour of seven
For at no time is the heart of woman more susceptible to temptation than at the moment when she feels herself betrayed and outraged in her best feelings . It was plain daylight when the last guests left the Casino . Without exception , liberal indulgence in champagne and brandy had done its work , and the motley crowd that left the building thus `` early '' was in a decidedly boisterous mood , and the limits of decency and good manners had been passed by them hours before . The nearby church bell struck the hour of seven as Captain Stark and his wife , as well as the colonel and his better half , climbed into the capacious vehicle that had been waiting for them at the door of the club-house for several hours . The horses had become stiff in the joints , and , with a cold and raw blustering wind to chill them , they were now forced to pull their heavy load on the miry highway leading toward town . The coachman had to use his whip freely to make the poor beasts break into a sorry trot ; but at last the human load had been deposited before their doors . Lieutenant von Meckelburg and First Lieutenant Specht could scarcely keep on their legs ; but , nevertheless , they walked straight from the Casino to the barracks , where they were to give , each of them , an hour 's instruction to the recruits .