Two o’clock
He lighted all the candles there were in his room -- a goodly number -- and opened his door , so that they threw a flood of light on that of Isabelle 's chamber , which was exactly opposite his own . Next he drew his sword , laid it , with his dagger , on a table he had drawn out in front of the door , and then sat down beside it , facing the corridor , to watch . He waited some time without hearing or seeing anything . Two o'clock had rung out from a neighbouring church tower when a slight rustling caught his listening ear , and presently one of the four rascals -- the very man he had first seen -- emerged from the shadow into the bright light streaming out into the passage from his open door . The baron had sprung to his feet at the first sound , and stood erect on the threshold , sword in hand , with such a lofty , heroic , and triumphant air , that Merindol -- for it was he -- passed quickly by , without offering to molest him , with a most deprecating , crestfallen expression ; a laughable contrast to his habitual fierce insolence . His three doughty comrades followed in quick succession -- but not one of them dared to attack de Sigognac , and they slunk out of sight as rapidly as possible . He saluted each one with a mocking gesture as he passed , and stood tranquilly watching them as long as he could see them .