about five o'clock
Through all the next day he haunted me and persecuted me , now with prayers and now with threats ; following me everywhere with eyes of such hot longing that I marvelled at the irrepressible spirit that shone in the lad . Of course I told him nothing . Yet I was glad when the next day came , and with it an announcement that Henry would visit M. de Gourdon and lie that night at his house , four miles from Montauban , where the court then was . Only eight gentlemen were invited to be of the party , with as many ladies ; the troop with a handful of servants riding out of the city about five o'clock , and no one the wiser . No one saw anything odd in the visit , nor in my being chosen to attend the King . But I knew ; and I was not surprised when we stopped at M. de Gourdon 's only to sup , and then getting to horse , rode through the night and the dusky oak woods , by walled farms and hamlets , and under rustling poplars -- rode many leagues , and forded many streams . The night was hot , it was the month of June ; and it thundered continually , but with no rain .