two
o'clock in the morning
Then they passed out , drawing the door close after them . Still the duke held me back , and we rested where we were three or four minutes . Then he whispered , `` Come , '' and we stole across the hall after them and found ourselves outside . It must have been about half-past two o'clock in the morning ; there was no moon and it was rather dark . The duke turned sharp to the left and led me to the bypath , and there , a couple of hundred yards ahead of us , we saw a cube of light that came from a dark lantern . The duke 's face was dimly visible , and an amused smile played on his lips as he said softly : `` Lafleur and Pierre ! They think they 've got the necklace ! ''