The Count of Monte Cristo

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Saturday arrived upon which the ball was to take place at M. de
Morcerf's. It was ten o'clock at night; the branches of the great trees
in the garden of the count's house stood out boldly against the azure
canopy of heaven, which was studded with golden stars, but where
the last fleeting clouds of a vanishing storm yet lingered. From the
apartments on the ground-floor might be heard the sound of music, with
the whirl of the waltz and galop, while brilliant streams of light shone
through the openings of the Venetian blinds. At this moment the garden
was only occupied by about ten servants, who had just received orders
from their mistress to prepare the supper, the serenity of the weather
continuing to increase. Until now, it had been undecided whether the
supper should take place in the dining-room, or under a long tent
erected on the lawn, but the beautiful blue sky, studded with stars, had
settled the question in favor of the lawn. The gardens were illuminated
with colored lanterns, according to the Italian custom, and, as is usual
in countries where the luxuries of the table--the rarest of all luxuries
in their complete form--are well understood, the supper-table was loaded