seven o’clock
He had surveyed stonily the costume in which the little Prince was to be taken away . He had watched while the boxes of ammunition were uncovered in their barrels , he had seen the cobbler 's shop become a seething hive of activity , where all day men had come and gone . He had heard the press beneath his feet fall silent because its work was done , and at dusk he had with his own eyes beheld men who carried forth , under their arms , blazing placards for the walls of the town . Then , at seven o'clock , something had happened . The concierge 's niece had gone , leaving the supper ready cooked on the back of the stove . Old Adelbert sat alone , and watched the red bars of the stove fade to black . By that time it was done , and he was of the damned .