the hour of six
The queen shuddered in her inmost soul at this question , and hid her quivering face on the faithful breast of the princess . `` Oh , sister , I am suffocating with anxiety , '' she said . `` I feel that this hour is to decide the lives of us all , and it seems to me as if Death were already stretching out his cold hand toward me . We are lost , and my son , my unhappy son , will never wear any other than the martyr 's crown , and -- '' The queen was silent , for just then the tower-clock began to strike , slowly , peacefully , the hour of six ! The critical moment ! The lamplight must come now ! If it were Toulan , they might be saved .