the hour of ten
On that air came intermittently from the distance sounds of the continuing horrible activities of the populace , the aftermath of that bloody day . Mme. de Plougastel lay there , listening to those sounds for upwards of an hour , thanking Heaven that for the present at least the disturbances were distant , dreading lest at any moment they should occur nearer at hand , lest this Bondy section in which her hotel was situated should become the scene of horrors similar to those whose echoes reached her ears from other sections away to the south and west . The couch occupied by the Countess lay in shadow ; for all the lights in that long salon had been extinguished with the exception of a cluster of candles in a massive silver candle branch placed on a round marquetry table in the middle of the room -- an island of light in the surrounding gloom . The timepiece on the overmantel chimed melodiously the hour of ten , and then , startling in the suddenness with which it broke the immediate silence , another sound vibrated through the house , and brought madame to her feet , in a breathless mingling of hope and dread . Some one was knocking sharply on the door below . Followed moments of agonized suspense , culminating in the abrupt invasion of the room by the footman Jacques . He looked round , not seeing his mistress at first .