two o'clock
Then he thought it might be unpatriotic to be joyful at such a time , and put on a long face again ; but none the less his heart was very glad and he contemplated with much interest a colonel and captain , followed by the sergeant , as they hurriedly left the Sous-Prefecture . The colonel had the tablecloth , rolled in a bundle , beneath his arm . He thought he should like to follow them , and took leave of Rose , who was very proud that her napery was to be put to such use . It was then just striking two o'clock . In front of the Hotel de Ville Delaherche was jostled by a disorderly mob of half-crazed soldiers who were pushing their way down from the Faubourg de la Cassine ; he lost sight of the colonel , and abandoned his design of going to witness the raising of the white flag . He certainly would not be allowed to enter the citadel , and then again he had heard it reported that shells were falling on the college , and a new terror filled his mind ; his factory might have been burned since he left it . All his feverish agitation returned to him and he started off on a run ; the rapid motion was a relief to him .