the hour of seven
The discarded servant was just the right sort of spy to watch the suspected master . Thus it happened that , in the office of the Secret Police at Paris , and under the Reign of Terror , Lomaque 's old master was , nominally , his master still -- the superintendent to whom he was ceremonially accountable , in public -- the suspected man , whose slightest words and deeds he was officially set to watch , in private . Ever sadder and darker grew the face of Lomaque as he now pondered alone over the changes and misfortunes of the past five years . A neighboring church-clock striking the hour of seven aroused him from his meditations . He arranged the confused mass of papers before him -- looked toward the door , as if expecting some one to enter -- then , finding himself still alone , recurred to the one special paper which had first suggested his long train of gloomy thoughts . The few lines it contained were signed in cipher , and ran thus : `` You are aware that your superintendent , Danville , obtained leave of absence last week to attend to some affairs of his at Lyons , and that he is not expected back just yet for a day or two . While he is away , push on the affair of Trudaine .