seven o'clock
Just as she was about to start she came running back to embrace Charlot . `` I entrust him to your care , Father Fouchard ; keep an eye on him and see that he does n't get hold of the matches . '' `` Yes , yes ; never fear ! '' They were late in getting off ; it was near seven o'clock when the little procession , the donkey , hanging his head and drawing the narrow cart , leading , descended the steep hill of Remilly . It had rained heavily during the night , and the roads were become rivers of mud ; great lowering clouds hung in the heavens , imparting an air of cheerless desolation to the scene . Prosper , wishing to save all the distance he could , had determined on taking the route that lay through the city of Sedan , but before they reached Pont-Maugis a Prussian outpost halted the cart and held it for over an hour , and finally , after their pass had been referred , one after another , to four or five officials , they were told they might resume their journey , but only on condition of taking the longer , roundabout route by way of Bazeilles , to do which they would have to turn into a cross-road on their left . No reason was assigned ; their object was probably to avoid adding to the crowd that encumbered the streets of the city .