midnight
Had we been but a minute later the Scot would have barred all egress . '' And Le Brusquet looked back at the gate through which we had passed . It lay on the other side of the pontlevis -- the fosse between us -- and was of angular shape , surmounted by a statue of Charles V. of France , and , as De Lorgnac said , was already doomed to destruction to make way for the improvements contemplated by the King . It was midnight now , and the streets were almost deserted , though here and there were groups of people collected together for mutual protection . As time was short we decided to take the Rue St. Thomas du Louvre despite its ill-paved and noisome condition . Passing the fountain near the Marché des Innocents we turned up by the St. Eustache into the Tiquetonne , and thence Rue Tire Boudin was but a short step . I need not say with what joy the good Pierrebon received me , and after a light supper -- in which , I fear , I did but scant justice to De Lorgnac 's Joué -- I determined to snatch an hour or so of rest before starting .