about an hour before noon
It had taken root in my memory , so that I had come to look upon its bare rounded head , with the guide-post and the four roads , as the first outpost of Paris , as the first sign of return to the old life . Now for two days I had been looking forward to seeing it again , That long stretch of road would do admirably for something I had in my mind . That sign-post , with the roads pointing north , south , east , and west -- could there be a better place for meetings and partings ? We came to the bottom of the ascent about an hour before noon , M. de Cocheforet , Mademoiselle , and I . We had reversed the order of yesterday , and I rode ahead ; they came after at their leisure . Now , at the foot of the hill I stopped , and letting Mademoiselle pass on , detained M. de Cocheforet by a gesture . ` Pardon me , one moment , ' I said .