nine o’clock
He took the prescription which Dr. Durocher had rapidly traced on a leaf of his pocketbook , mounted his horse , and departed . The highroad was fortunately not far distant . When he reached it he rode like the phantom horseman . It was nine o'clock when Madame de Tecle witnessed his departure -- it was a few moments after ten when she heard the tramp of his horse at the foot of the hill and ran to the door of the hut . The condition of the two children seemed to have grown worse in the interval , but the old doctor had great hopes in the remedies which Camors was to bring . She waited with impatience , and received him like the dawn of the last hope . She contented herself with pressing his hand , when , breathless , he descended from his horse .