midnight
Eleven o'clock was striking . The father and son preserved a profound silence toward each other , where an intelligent observer would have expected cries and tears . But these two men were of such a nature that all emotion plunged itself where it was lost forever when they had resolved to confine it to their own hearts . They passed , then , silently and almost breathlessly the hour which preceded midnight . The clock , by striking , alone pointed out to them how many minutes had lasted the painful journey made by their souls in the immensity of the remembrances of the past and of the fears of the future . Athos rose first , saying , `` It is late -- till to-morrow . '' Raoul rose , and in his turn embraced his father .