one
o'clock
She had understood all along from the Comtesse , and also from one or two of the members of the league , that their mysterious leader had pledged his honour to bring the fugitive Comte de Tournay safely out of France . Whilst little Suzanne -- unconscious of all -- save her own all-important little secret , went prattling on , Marguerite 's thoughts went back to the events of the past night . Armand 's peril , Chauvelin 's threat , his cruel `` Either -- or -- '' which she had accepted . And then her own work in the matter , which should have culminated at one o'clock in Lord Grenville 's dining-room , when the relentless agent of the French Government would finally learn who was this mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel , who so openly defied an army of spies and placed himself so boldly , and for mere sport , on the side of the enemies of France . Since then she had heard nothing from Chauvelin . She had concluded that he had failed , and yet , she had not felt anxious about Armand , because her husband had promised her that Armand would be safe . But now , suddenly , as Suzanne prattled merrily along , an awful horror came upon her for what she had done .