The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann

Within the next few days it would be seven months since Hans Castorp's advent among those up here; while Cousin Joachim, who had already had five to his credit, would soon be able to look back upon twelve; that is to say, upon a whole round year. Round, indeed, in a cosmic sense; for since the doughty little locomotive had set him down at these heights, the earth had completed one full course round the sun, and was returned to the point whence it had then set out. The carnival season was at hand, and Hans Castorp inquired among the old inhabitants of the Berghof what it would be like.

"Magnifique," answered Settembrini, whom the cousins had again encountered on the morning walk. "Gorgeous," he said. "Every bit as lively as it is in the Prater. You shall see, Engineer, ‘the gayest gallants of the night, in brilliant rows advancing,' " he quoted, and went on in his most mocking vein, couching his gibes in sounding phrases, with a telling accompaniment of arm, shoulder, and head movements. "What do you expect? Even in maisons de santé they have their balls for the fools and idiots, I've read; why not up here as well? The programme includes various danses macabres, as you may imagine; but unfortunately some of last year's guests will not be here -- the party being over at half past nine, you perceive -- "