ten o'clock at night
Sentence having been pronounced against the king , the only thing to be done by the four was to get rid of the London executioner ; this meant at least a few days delay while another executioner was being procured . D'Artagnan undertook this difficult task , while Aramis was to personate Bishop Juxon , the royal chaplain , and explain to Charles the attempt being made to save him . Athos engaged to get everything ready for leaving England . On the very night before the execution Aramis brought the king a message from D'Artagnan , `` Tell the king that to-morrow , at ten o'clock at night , we shall carry him off . '' Aramis added , `` He has said it , and he will do it . '' The scaffold was already being constructed in Whitehall as he spoke , but D'Artagnan had the London executioner fast bound under lock and key in a cellar , and Athos had a light skiff waiting at Greenwich . Not only this , but at midnight these four wonderful men , thanks to Athos , who spoke excellent English , were also at work at the scaffold -- having bribed the carpenter in charge to let them assist -- and at the same time boring a hole in the wall .