half past four
It was no longer a matter of gold spilled upon the highroad , but of blood to be shed -- not of pistols loaded with powder , and wielded by a child 's hands , but of deadly weapons handled by soldiers accustomed to their use . For the rest , as Montbar had all the day that was dawning and the morrow before him in which to mature his plans , he contented himself with asking his groom to inquire which postilion would take the coach at Mâcon at five o'clock for the two stages between Mâcon and Belleville . He also sent him to buy four screw-rings and two padlocks fastening with keys . He already knew that the mail was due at Mâcon at half past four , waited for the travellers to dine , and started again punctually at five . No doubt all his plans were previously laid , for , after giving these directions , Montbar dismissed his servant and went to sleep like a man who has long arrears of slumber to make up . The next morning he did not wake , or rather did not come downstairs until nine o'clock . He asked casually what had become of his noisy neighbor , and was told that he had started in the Lyons mail at six in the morning , with his friend the colonel of the Chasseurs ; but the landlord thought they had only engaged places as far as Tonnerre .