midnight
She heard the quick words of challenge -- `` Liberté , Fraternité , Egalité ! '' then Chauvelin 's quick query : -- `` What news ? '' Two men on horseback had halted beside the vehicle . Marguerite could see them silhouetted against the midnight sky . She could hear their voices , and the snorting of their horses , and now , behind her , some little distance off , the regular and measured tread of a body of advancing men : Desgas and his soldiers . There had been a long pause , during which , no doubt , Chauvelin satisfied the men as to his identity , for presently , questions and answers followed each other in quick succession . `` You have seen the stranger ? ''