the hour of nine
His breakfast was laid upon a small table in his bedroom , and he ate very fast . Saint-Aignan , of whom he would not lose sight , held his napkin in his hand . He then disposed of several military audiences , during which he dispatched Saint-Aignan to see what he could find out . Then , still occupied , still full of anxiety , still watching Saint-Aignan 's return , who had sent out his servants in every direction , to make inquiries , and who had also gone himself , the hour of nine struck , and the king forthwith passed into his large cabinet . As the clock was striking nine the ambassadors entered , and as it finished the two queens and Madame made their appearance . There were three ambassadors from Holland , and two from Spain . The king glanced at them , and then bowed : and , at the same moment , Saint-Aignan entered -- an entrance which the king regarded as far more important , in a different sense , however , than that of the ambassadors , however numerous they were , and from whatever country they came : and so , setting everything else aside , the king made a sign of interrogation to Saint-Aignan , which the latter answered by a most decisive negative .