seven o'clock
Night came on . Francoise watched with anxiety the movements of the soldiers . She hung about the room in which Dominique was imprisoned . Toward seven o'clock she experienced a poignant emotion . She saw the officer enter the prisoner 's apartment and for a quarter of an hour heard their voices in loud conversation . For an instant the officer reappeared upon the threshold to give an order in German , which she did not understand , but when twelve men ranged themselves in the courtyard , their guns on their shoulders , she trembled and felt as if about to faint . All then was over : the execution was going to take place .