nine o'clock
And no man , nor any woman , could guess the mad revel of hate and war that would rage that night around the placid homestead of Las Flores . Behind the veranda was a huge ballroom , converted , by the exigencies of the campaign , into a dining hall for the many inmates of the _ finca _ . The Brazilian ladies , the sailors , some sick or wounded officers who were not confined to bed , even the household servants , took their meals there in common . Supper was served soon after nine o'clock . When cigars and cigarettes were lighted , and the company broke up into laughing , gossiping , noisy groups , the place looked more like a popular Continental cafe than a room in a private mansion . Though De Sylva , General Russo , San Benavides , and some score of members of the President 's staff who usually dined at the _ finca _ , were now absent , there was no lack of lively chatter . A very Babel of tongues mixed in amity .