eight o'clock
As I have already sought to indicate in these pages , Michelot was as much my friend as my servant . It was therefore no more than natural that I should communicate to him my fears touching what might come of the machinations of St. Auban , Vilmorin , and even , perchance , of that little firebrand , Malpertuis . Night fell while we talked , and at last the lights of Étampes , where we proposed to lie , peeped at us from a distance , and food and warmth . It was eight o'clock when we reached the town , and a few moments later we rattled into the courtyard of the Hôtel de l'Épée . Andrea was out of temper to learn that Mesdemoiselles de Canaples had reached the place two hours earlier , taken fresh horses , and proceeded on their journey , intending to reach Monnerville that night . He was even mad enough to propose that we should follow their example , but my sober arguments prevailed , and at Étampes we stayed till morning . Andrea withdrew early .