midnight
I was relieved to find that he was not suffering from illness , and I told him of the anxiety of his family concerning his health . M. de Franchi replied that he had not been ill , but that he had been suffering from a very bitter disappointment , aggravated by the knowledge that his own suffering caused his brother to suffer , too . He hoped , however , that time would heal the wound in his heart . We agreed to meet the following night at the opera ball at midnight , on the young lawyer 's suggestion . I rallied him on his recovery from his sorrow , but Louis only said mournfully that he was driven by fate , dragged against his will . `` I am quite sure , '' he said , `` that it would be better for me not to go , but nevertheless I am going . '' Louis was too pre-occupied to talk when we met at the masked ball , and he suddenly left me for a lady carrying violets .