eleven o’clock
But , in a short time he mentioned a difficulty ; the previous year , his parents had purchased a substitute for him ; but any day he might be drafted and the prospect of serving in the army alarmed him greatly . To Felicite his cowardice appeared a proof of his love for her , and her devotion to him grew stronger . When she met him , he would torture her with his fears and his entreaties . At last , he announced that he was going to the prefect himself for information , and would let her know everything on the following Sunday , between eleven o'clock and midnight . When the time grew near , she ran to meet her lover . But instead of Theodore , one of his friends was at the meeting-place . He informed her that she would never see her sweetheart again ; for , in order to escape the conscription , he had married a rich old woman , Madame Lehoussais , of Toucques .