two in the morning
As she finished the last word , Raoul had disappeared . Miss Grafton returned to her own apartment , paler than death itself . Buckingham availed himself of the arrival of the courier , who had brought the letter to the king , to write to Madame and to the Comte de Guiche . The king had not been mistaken , for at two in the morning the tide was at full flood , and Raoul had embarked for France . The king most assiduously followed the progress which was made in La Valliere 's portrait ; and did so with a care and attention arising as much from a desire that it should resemble her as from the wish that the painter should prolong the period of its completion as much as possible . It was amusing to observe him following the artist 's brush , awaiting the completion of a particular plan , or the result of a combination of colors , and suggesting various modifications to the painter , which the latter consented to adopt with the most respectful docility of disposition . And again , when the artist , following Malicorne 's advice , was a little late in arriving , and when Saint-Aignan had been obliged to be absent for some time , it was interesting to observe , though no one witnessed them , those moments of silence full of deep expression , which united in one sigh two souls most disposed to understand each other , and who by no means objected to the quiet and meditation they enjoyed together .