twelve o'clock
She could not forget that figure eight , which was the serial number of the next adventure . To launch herself upon it meant taking up the interrupted chain , going back to Rénine and giving him a pledge which , with his powers of suggestion , he would know how to turn to account . Two days before the 5th of December , she was still in the same frame of mind . So she was on the morning of the 4th ; but suddenly , without even having to contend against preliminary subterfuges , she ran out into the garden , cut three lengths of rush , plaited them as she used to do in her childhood and at twelve o'clock had herself driven to the station . She was uplifted by an eager curiosity . She was unable to resist all the amusing and novel sensations which the adventure , proposed by Rénine , promised her . It was really too tempting .