about seven o’clock in the morning
Already he had made up his mind how to act . He would get to Avignon , and thence by express to Paris . The _ rapides _ from Marseilles and the Riviera all stopped at the ancient city of the Popes . Therefore , being a good motor driver , Hugh started away down the long road which led through the valley to Orgon , and thence direct to Avignon , which came into sight about seven o'clock in the morning . Before entering the old city of walls and castles Hugh turned into a side road about two miles distant , drove the car to the end , and opening a gate succeeded in getting it some little distance into a wood , where it was well concealed from anyone passing along the road . Then , descending and ascertaining that the driver was sleeping comfortably from the effects of the strong narcotic , he took his bag and walked into the town . At the railway station he found the through express from Ventimiglia -- the Italian frontier -- to Paris would be due in twenty minutes , therefore he purchased a first-class ticket for Paris , and in a short time was taking his morning coffee in the _ wagon-restaurant _ on his way to the French capital .