one o'clock
For three days they had been busy polishing up their accoutrements . Those among the disbanded Landwehr-men who still possessed their _ Litewka _ had donned it , and pikes and sabres were seen in the crowd . Possibly they might be called upon to help in an instantaneous administration of justice . The Landrath 's sleigh had entered the village at one o'clock , and , as was customary , put up at the parsonage stable , where Herr Merckel and his son stood ready to welcome the high functionary . There was no gendarme on the box , which greatly mystified the Schrandeners . But perhaps the services of one were not required when they could be depended on to despatch the criminal at the first signal . Shortly before two , the Landrath , accompanied by the old pastor , left the parsonage and entered the inn by a side door , where Herr Merckel , senior , again was to the fore to receive him , while Felix slouched in the background , piqued at not being treated with what he considered sufficient respect by the civilian .