Eight o’clock
He had excellent reason for making this choice , although it might possibly take him out of his way for six or eight miles . In the first place he was nearer Belleville than Mâcon ; then he had spent twenty-four hours at Mâcon , and might be recognized there , whereas he had never stopped at Belleville longer than the time required to change horses when accident brought him there by post . The events we have just recorded had taken barely an hour to happen . Eight o'clock was striking from the church clock at Thoissy when Roland started in pursuit of the fugitives . The way was plain ; five or six horses had left their imprint on the snow ; one of these horses had paced . Roland jumped the two or three brooks which watered the space he had to cross to reach Belleville . A hundred yards from the town he paused , for here the trail separated again ; two of the six travellers had turned to the right , that is to say , they had struck away from the river , the four others to the left , continuing on their way to Belleville .