six o’clock
He dreaded and hoped it at the same time . He raised his head , he looked , she was not there . He had not seen her again , he would not see her again , for a long-time at least . He would start that very evening at six o'clock for Paris ; one of the personages in the War Office was interested in him ; he would try to get exchanged into another regiment . Alone at Cercottes , Jean had had time to reflect deeply , and that was the result of his reflections . He could not , he must not , be Bettina Percival 's husband . The men dismounted at the barracks , Jean took leave of his Colonel , his comrades ; all was over .