midnight
They had never seen such a banquet before . The long tables went all the way round the great courtyard , and not only had each table a fair white cloth , but there was also a fork at every place , and a stone drinking-jug . And in the midst of the open space stood a row of jolly-looking barrels and casks , there was beer and wine , white Schlossberger and red Affenthaler , but the national cherry spirits were conspicuous by their absence , for Greif knew the fierce Black Foresters well . Their iron heads could stand unlimited draughts of any drink except alcohol , as the event proved , for though they drank deep , and were merry to their heart 's content they filed through the gate soberly enough before the clock struck midnight . But before that there was speech-making , and singing , and dancing of reels under the moonlight that mingled softly with the rays of countless paper lanterns . The latter were marvellous in the eyes of the foresters , though some of those who had served in the army said they had seen the like in Stuttgardt , on the King 's birthday , when the Thiergarten was illuminated . Meanwhile Greif and Hilda sat together by the open window high above the court and looked down upon the merry-making peasants , or talked together .