eleven o'clock
Some of his troop fell and were hurt ; and their comrades refused to go on without them . Towards midnight , the alarm-bell of Varennes was heard through the darkness . The duke said it was no doubt some fire : but in his heart he had strong fears of the truth . Bouille , junior , sent by his father , had been waiting with his troop six hours at Varennes : and he , supposing that the party would not arrive this day , was in bed and asleep when the berlin reached the village , at eleven o'clock . His troop were , some of them , drinking in the public-houses . None of them were ready ; and the royal party tried in vain to discover through the thick darkness any sign of a friendly guard , where they had made sure of meeting one . If they could but find these hussars , they believed they should be safe ; for they had now no more towns to pass through , and no great way to go .