ten o'clock
Some or other of the nobles and clergy were continually planning to carry the royal family , either to Rouen -LRB- a loyal city -RRB- or to the frontiers , to meet the king 's brother and friends , and the army they were raising . It would probably have been done , but for the king 's irresolution . He would neither speak nor stir about it . One night in March , at ten o'clock , when the children were asleep in bed , the king and queen were playing whist with his next brother and sister-in-law -LRB- who had not gone away -RRB- , and the Princess Elizabeth was kneeling on a footstool beside the card table , looking on . Monsieur Campan , one of the most trusty of the queen 's attendants , came in , and said , in a low voice , that the Count d'Inisdal had called to say that everything was planned for an escape . The nobles who had contrived it were collected to guard and accompany the king ; -- the National Guard about the palace were gained over ; -- post horses were ready all along the road ; -- the king had only to consent , and he might be off before midnight . The king went on playing his cards , and made no answer .