the hour of two
We softly closed the door behind us . And lo ! we were at last free -- free and in the streets of Paris , with the cool night air fanning our brows . A church hard by tolled the hour of two ; and the strokes were echoed , before we had gone many steps along the ill-paved way , by the solemn tones of the bell of Notre Dame . We were free and in the streets , with a guide who knew the way . If Bezers had not gone straight from us to his vengeance , we might thwart him yet . I strode along quickly , Madame d' O by my side the others a little way in front .