four o'clock
The Prussians , whose organization was so wonderfully complete , continued to manifest the same brutal inattention to the necessities of the vanquished army . On the representations of Generals Douay and Lebrun , they had indeed sent in a few sheep as well as some wagon-loads of bread , but so little care was taken to guard them that the sheep were carried off bodily and the wagons pillaged as soon as they reached the bridge , the consequence of which was that the troops who were encamped a hundred yards further on were no better off than before ; it was only the worst element , the plunderers and bummers , who benefited by the provision trains . And thereon Jean , who , as he said , saw how the trick was done , brought Maurice with him to the bridge to keep an eye on the victuals . It was four o'clock , and they had not had a morsel to eat all that beautiful bright Thursday , when suddenly their eyes were gladdened by the sight of Delaherche . A few among the citizens of Sedan had with infinite difficulty obtained permission to visit the prisoners , to whom they carried provisions , and Maurice had on several occasions expressed his surprise at his failure to receive any tidings of his sister . As soon as they recognized Delaherche in the distance , carrying a large basket and with a loaf of bread under either arm , they darted forward fast as their legs could carry them , but even thus they were too late ; a crowding , jostling mob closed in , and in the confusion the dazed manufacturer was relieved of his basket and one of his loaves , which vanished from his sight so expeditiously that he was never able to tell the manner of their disappearance . `` Ah , my poor friends ! ''