About half past eleven
Everybody felt the gravity of the situation , but no one ventured to speak of it openly ; and , moreover , Mme. du Croisier 's attachment to the upper sphere was so well known , that people scarcely dared to mention the disaster which had befallen the d'Esgrignons or to ask for particulars . The persons most interested were waiting till good Mme. du Croisier retired , for that lady always retreated to her room at the same hour to perform her religious exercises as far as possible out of her husband 's sight . Du Croisier 's adherents , knowing the secret and the plans of the great commercial power , looked round when the lady of the house disappeared ; but there were still several persons present whose opinions or interests marked them out as untrustworthy , so they continued to play . About half past eleven all had gone save intimates : M. Sauvager , M. Camusot , the examining magistrate , and his wife , M. and Mme. du Ronceret and their son Fabien , M. and Mme. du Coudrai , and Joseph Blondet , the eldest of an old judge ; ten persons in all . It is told of Talleyrand that one fatal day , three hours after midnight , he suddenly interrupted a game of cards in the Duchesse de Luynes ' house by laying down his watch on the table and asking the players whether the Prince de Conde had any child but the Duc d'Enghien . `` Why do you ask ? '' returned Mme. de Luynes , `` when you know so well that he has not . ''