five o'clock
As he issued from the château , Baptiste dropped his spade and followed him , keeping at a short distance behind , until he neared the gate ; then the old gardener approached , looking cautiously around to see that he was not observed , stealthily held out a note , whispering , `` Mademoiselle Madeleine bade me give this to monsieur , '' turned on his heel , and walked away as rapidly as though he feared to be pursued . The note contained these words : -- `` A friend in my great emergency is indispensable to me . I have no friend in whom I can confide but you . I shall be at the little _ châlet _ to-morrow morning , at five o'clock . `` MADELEINE M. DE GRAMONT . '' A radiant change passed over the shadowed features of Gaston de Bois , as he read these lines . That one so self-reliant as Madeleine proffered him her confidence , trusted him , appealed to him for aid , was surely enough to raise him in his own esteem ; and he almost forgot the recent mortification caused by an unfortunate awkwardness and miserable diffidence , which seemed the haunting demons of his existence .