about three in the morning
Accordingly , she heated her oven and made , with her mother 's help , a _ pate _ of hare and ducks , a rice cake , roasted two fowls , selected three bottles of wine , and baked two loaves of bread . About two in the morning she started for the forest , carrying the load on her back , accompanied by Couraut , who in all such expeditions showed wonderful sagacity as a guide . He scented strangers at immense distances , and as soon as he was certain of their presence he returned to his mistress with a low growl , looking at her fixedly and turning his muzzle in the direction of the danger . Marthe reached the pond about three in the morning , and left the dog as sentinel on the bank . After half an hour 's labor in clearing the entrance she came with a dark lantern to the door of the cave , her face covered with a mask , which she had found , as directed , on the steps . The imprisonment of the senator seemed to have been long premeditated . A hole about a foot square , which Marthe had never seen before , was roughly cut in the upper part of the iron door which closed the cave ; but in order to prevent Malin from using the time and patience all prisoners have at their command in loosening the iron bar which held the door , it was securely fastened with a padlock .