About three o'clock
Despite her father 's entreaties she would not quit the courtyard . She was awaiting the French . But the hours sped on ; night was approaching , and she suffered the more as all the time gained did not seem to be likely to change the frightful denouement . About three o'clock the Prussians made their preparations for departure . For an instant past the officer had , as on the previous day , shut himself up with Dominique . Francoise realized that the young man 's life was in balance . She clasped her hands ; she prayed .