midnight
I was , of course , nothing loth to spend a few hours with such a charming companion as La Valentine ; therefore in the Avenue des Champs Elysées I pulled up , and consulting my road-book , decided to go by way of Arras , Douai , St. Amand , and Ath . Quickly we ran out beyond the fortifications ; while , driving in silence , I wondered what this latest manoeuvre was to be . This sudden flight from Paris was more than mysterious . It caused me considerable apprehension , for when I had seen the Count in his room at midnight he had made no mention of his intention to leave so early . At last , out upon the straight highway that ran between lines of high bare poplars , I put on speed , and quickly the cloud of white dust rose behind us . The northerly wind that grey day was biting , and threatened snow ; therefore my pretty companion very soon began to feel the cold . I saw her turning up the collar of her cloth motor-coat , and guessed that she had no leather beneath .