twelve o'clock
He did not wholly succeed . As Paul begged him so earnestly to come to his festival , he accepted the invitation , and found himself , on the first of May , among the guests whom Malvine received on the steps of Friesenmoor House . In the great oak-paneled dining room , with its windows looking to the west , a banquet was laid for twenty-four guests . Following the country custom , they sat down to table at twelve o'clock . Malvine , handsomely dressed and richly adorned , sat enthroned in the middle of the long side of the table , and had Chamberlain von Swerte -LRB- of the House of Hellebrand -RRB- and the Landrath , to right and left of her . Paul , who sat opposite , insisted against all the rules of etiquette on having Schrotter beside him as his left-hand neighbor . On his right , Frau Brohl , in rustling silk , sat in rapt silence .