midnight
`` Oh , oh , '' said I to myself , with a chuckle , `` it is Madame Coutance you are watching , is it ? Well , my friend , you will find that two can play at that game ! '' and , discovering a quiet corner , I stood flattened against the wall with my face muffled . Two hours passed , but the man did not re-appear , and , when midnight arrived without any incident , I left the Rue Crillon , which was now almost deserted . In a side street a number of people were cheering loudly for Condé , and farther on I met half a dozen cavaliers evidently returning from some meeting . One was Baron Maubranne . Willing to keep out of mischief , I drew aside to let him pass , hoping he would not recognise me .