About ten o'clock
He might even dare , when De la Foret was gone , to confess his own action in the matter to the Queen , once she was again within his influence . She had forgiven him more than that in the past , when he had made his own mad devotion to herself excuse for his rashness or misconduct . He waited opportunity , he arranged all details carefully , he secured the passive agents of his purpose ; and when the right day came he acted . About ten o'clock one night , a half-hour before the closing of the palace gates , when no one could go in or go out save by permit of the Lord Chamberlain , a footman from a surgeon of the palace came to Angele , bearing a note which read : `` Your friend is very ill , and asks for you . Come hither alone ; and now , if you would come at all . '' Her father was confined to bed with some ailment of the hour , and asleep -- it were no good to awaken him . Her mind was at once made up .