about four o’clock in the afternoon
Their places were filled by Moreau and a portion of the soldiers who had been electrified by Bonaparte . Nevertheless the two Directors drew up a message for the Council of the Five Hundred , in which they protested energetically against what had been done . When this was finished Gohier handed it to his secretary , and Moulins , half dead with exhaustion , returned to his apartments to take some food . It was then about four o'clock in the afternoon . An instant later Gohier 's secretary returned in great perturbation . `` Well , '' said Gohier , `` why have you not gone ? '' `` Citizen president , '' replied the young man , `` we are prisoners in the palace . ''