midnight
The Duchess de Polignac and her relations now saw that they must be off , if they wished to preserve their liberty -- perhaps their lives . After the next day , Louis never saw his governess more . She bade him good-night at his bed time ; and in the morning she was far away . She went disguised as a lady 's maid , and sat on the coach-box , leaving the palace just at midnight . The queen bade her farewell in private , with many and bitter tears , forgetting any coolness that had lately existed between them in the thought of their former friendship , and the care the duchess had taken of her children . The duchess was not rich ; and the queen , after they had parted , sent her a purse of gold , with a message that she might want it on the journey . It was a perilous journey .