the hour of six
It was not for Percy , who did not know her , to save Jeanne or to guard her . That task was Armand 's , who worshipped her , and who would gladly die beside her if he failed to rescue her from threatened death . Resolution was not slow in coming . A tower clock inside the city struck the hour of six , and still no sign of Percy . Armand , his certificate of safety in his hand , walked boldly up to the gate . The guard challenged him , but he presented the certificate . There was an agonising moment when the card was taken from him , and he was detained in the guard-room while it was being examined by the sergeant in command .