noon
Great black clouds , the trail of some neighboring storm , had slowly filled the sky . The yellow heavens , the brass covered uniforms , had changed the valley of Rocreuse , so gay in the sunlight , into a den of cutthroats full of sinister gloom . The Prussian officer had contented himself with causing Dominique to be imprisoned without announcing what fate he reserved for him . Since noon Francoise had been torn by terrible anguish . 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 .