Three o'clock
I have scarce two hours left me now . '' He walked the room impatiently ; now muttering some broken words to himself , now stopping to listen to the sounds without . Still the din continued , and the distant roll of equipages , growing louder as they came , told that the tide was yet pressing onwards towards the Palace . `` Three o'clock ! '' cried the general , as the bell of the pavilion sounded ; `` at four I was to leave . Such were my written orders , signed by the minister . '' His impatience now became extreme .