three
o’clock
If Rupert were disposed of there , he had something to offer us in return for peace ; if his cousin escaped , he would be in the Konigstrasse , prepared to second the further plans of the desperate adventurer . In any event his skin was safe , and I presume to think that this weighed a little with him ; for excuse he had the wound which Bernenstein had given him , and which rendered his right arm entirely useless ; had he gone then , he would have been a most inefficient ally . Of all this we , as we rode through the forest , knew nothing . We might guess , conjecture , hope , or fear ; but our certain knowledge stopped with Rischenheim 's start for the capital and Rupert 's presence there at three o'clock . The pair might have met or might have missed . We had to act as though they had missed and Rupert were gone to meet the king . But we were late .