midnight
` By the way , ' he continued , turning abruptly to the servant , ` where is M. Francois ? ' The valet answered that he had not returned with us from the castle . The Marquis expressed himself annoyed at this , and I gathered , firstly , that the missing man was his near kinsman , and , secondly , that he was also the young spark who had been so forward to quarrel with me earlier in the evening . Determining to refer the matter , should it become pressing , to Rambouillet for adjustment , I took leave of him , and attended by two of his servants , whom he kindly transferred to my service for the present , I started towards my lodging a little before midnight . The moon had risen while we were at supper , and its light , which whitened the gables on one side of the street , diffused a glimmer below sufficient to enable us to avoid the kennel . Seeing this , I bade the men put out our torch . Frost had set in , and a keen wind was blowing , so that we were glad to hurry on at a good pace ; and the streets being quite deserted at this late hour , or haunted only by those who had come to dread the town marshal , we met no one and saw no lights .