One o’clock
Half after midnight ! ` All 's well ! ' Three-quarters , and still ` All 's well ' sounded with the clash of steel and a tinkle of silvery chimes . One o'clock struck , -- and the drifting clouds in heaven cleared fully , showing many brilliant stars in the western horizon , -- and a sentry passing , as noiselessly as his armour and accoutrements would permit , along the walled battlement which protected and overshadowed the windows of the Queen 's apartments , paused in his walk to look with an approving eye at the clearing promise of the weather . As he did so , a tall figure , wrapped in a thick rain-cloak , suddenly made its unexpected appearance through a side door in the wall , and moved rapidly towards a turret which contained a secret passage leading to the Queen 's boudoir , -- a private stairway which was never used save by the Royal family . The sentry gave a sharp warning cry . `` Halt !