nine o'clock
Two hours later the three troopers who had been out returned almost at the same minute with the news that the persons they were watching had all got up suddenly and gone out after a messenger wearing the Beaufort cognizance had come in and spoken to them . And a few minutes later Paolo arrived and said that the Duke of Beaufort had gone with the Count of Beaupuis to the convent of the Capuchins , and that several horses had been taken there . Hector thought the matter over . `` Certainly , '' he said to himself , `` as the cardinal 's note is dated at nine o'clock , he is now some distance on his way . As soon as the duke received notice of his having gone , he notified his friends . It can only be on his way home that they will venture to attack him ; but even if they have that intention they will scarcely do so if the Duke of Orleans returns with him , unless , indeed , the duke is himself in the plot , and as none of Paolo 's scouts have brought news of any communications between Beaufort and Orleans , it is hardly likely that it is so . `` Paolo , do you go down and watch the convent of the Capuchins .