midnight
I waited in the shelter of the archway till he had got into that street -- or road , I should say , for it soon leaves the town , proceeding straight in a South-easterly direction for about half a league through the country . As soon as he was out of the square , I was after him , stepping so lightly I could scarce hear my own footfalls . He walked rapidly , and as one who does not think of turning to look behind , a fact which I observed with comfort . If he was indeed the messenger , he must have been content with a very short rest for his horse after delivering the note to Monsieur de Merri ; -- must have started from Sablé as soon as , or little later than , Monsieur de Merri himself , to be in La Flèche on the same evening that gentleman arrived there , and to be out of it again before I was , as he must have been if he reached Le Lude by midnight . Perhaps he was passing through La Flèche at the very time the duel was going on ; but the sum of all was , that he could not know Monsieur de Merri was killed , and this I felt to be fortunate for me . Another thought which I had while following him along the straight white road that day , was that if the lady could command the services of this able young fellow to bear a message so far , why could she not use him directly for the saving of her life and honour ? Evidently there was a reason why mere zeal and ability would not suffice .