six
o'clock
After about two hours ' travelling we arrived at the Amiens road , and stopped at the barriere . I immediately inquired if a carriage had passed , resembling Mrs. Bingham 's , and learned that it had , about an hour before , and that the lady in it had been informed that two persons , like those she asked after , had been seen in a caleche driving rapidly to Amiens , upon which she set out as fast as possible in pursuit . `` Certainly , '' said I , `` the plot is thickening ; but for that unlucky mistake she might in all probability have waited here for us . Amiens is only two leagues now , so our drive will not be long , and before six o'clock we shall all be laughing over the matter as a very good joke . '' On we rattled , and as the road became less frequented , and the shadows lengthened , I could not but wonder at the strange situations which the adventurous character of my life had so often involved me in . Meanwhile , my fair friend 's spirits became more and more depressed , and it was not without the greatest difficulty I was enabled to support her courage . I assured her , and not altogether without reason , that though so often in my eventful career accidents were occurring which rendered it dubious and difficult to reach the goal I aimed at , yet the results had so often been more pleasant than I could have anticipated , that I always felt a kind of involuntary satisfaction at some apparent obstacle to my path , setting it down as some especial means of fortune , to heighten the pleasure awaiting me ; `` and now , '' added I , `` even here , perhaps , in this very mistake of our road -- the sentiments I have heard -- the feelings I have given utterance to -- '' What I was about to say , heaven knows -- perhaps nothing less than a downright proposal was coming ; but at that critical moment a gen-d'arme rode up to the side of our waggon , and surveyed us with the peculiarly significant scowl his order is gifted with .