four o'clock
As they did so I saw Cæsar dismount , tie his own horse and mine securely to two saplings , and clamber up the bank beside the horsemen . I thought his motive was probably to take advantage of this opportunity to stretch his legs , and perhaps also to indulge his curiosity with a nearer view of the French gentlemen , and I saw no reason to interfere -- especially as the two gentlemen , young blades whom I knew by sight , not only offered no objections , but began at once to amuse themselves with his clownish manners and outlandish speech . Of course the chevalier 's quest was futile , as also was his examination of his three witnesses . They all stuck to their text , -- the embarkation of Clotilde at four o'clock on the afternoon previous in Paris , -- and Clotilde was as stupid as heart could desire , professing absolute ignorance of her mistress 's plans , and knowing only that she herself was being sent home to America because she was homesick ; and with a negress 's love of gratuitous insult when she thinks she is safe in offering it , she added in her creole dialect : `` De Lord knows , I 's sick o ' white trash anyhow . I 's mighty glad to be gittin ' back to a country ob ladies and gen ` lemen . '' The chevalier 's two companions laughed , but the chevalier looked perplexed . `` Monsieur , '' he said , with an air of exaggerated deference , `` I have discovered nothing on your boat , either by search or by examination of the witnesses , that can implicate you in any way with the flight of the Comtesse de Baloit .