four
o'clock
Slowly , dreadfully slowly moved the fingers of the great clock above on the chimney . Madame de Campan often fixed her gaze upon it , and it seemed to her as if time must have ceased to go on , for it appeared to be an eternity since Varicourt had taken leave of her , and yet the two longer fingers on the dial had not indicated the fourth hour after midnight . But the pendulum still continued its regular , even swinging ; the time went forward ; only every moment made the horror , the fear of unknown danger seem like an eternity ! At last , slowly , with calm stroke , the hour began to strike four o'clock . And amid the dreadful sounds outside the palace , the women could recognize the deep tones of the great clock on the Swiss hall . Four o'clock ! One solitary , dreadful hour is passed !