ten o'clock
Natura did not greatly relish this piece of knight-errantry ; but as he thought he ought to refuse nothing to the baron , hesitated not to assure him of the most ready compliance ; on which the other told him , he must get two or three of his soldiers , who , disguised like peasants , but well mounted , and their swords concealed under their cloaths , must attend the expedition , and be at hand in case they should meet with any resistance , which , however , he said he did not apprehend , it being but ten small miles to the monastery , the road but little frequented , and the time agreed upon for the execution of the project twelve at night ; so there was no great danger of any interruption , unless some unfortunate accident should happen . -- ` The lady , ' continued he , ` informs me she has observed the place where the portress constantly hangs up the key of the outer gate every night , and when the nuns are gone into the chapel to their midnight devotions , can easily slip out : -- we have only therefore to be there exactly at the time , and be ready to receive her ; and as for the rest , I have already provided a place where she may remain undiscovered , till something can be done for her . ' The baron added many things concerning the ill treatment she had received ; but Natura did not give himself any trouble to examine into the merits of the cause , it was sufficient for him to do what he requested of him ; and that night being the same had been appointed by the lady for the business to be done , he went immediately about preparing for it . Accordingly , he selected from out of his troop three who seemed most proper to be employed in such an enterprize , and after having sworn them to secrecy in whatever they saw , or should happen , though without acquainting them with the main of the affair , or mentioning the baron d' Eyrac , told them in what manner they were to disguise themselves , and ordered they should attend him at the Fauxbourg , a little after ten o'clock the same night . Rejoiced at an opportunity of obliging their officer , especially as they doubted not of being well gratified , each gave a thousand oaths instead of the one required of him , to be both punctual and faithful in the discharge of the trust reposed in him . In fine , all was conducted with a care and caution becoming of the gratitude and esteem Natura had for the baron , and as if he had himself approved of this undertaking , which , as I before observed , he could not do in his heart . The two gentlemen , muffled up in their cloaks and vizarded , repaired to the Fauxbourg , at the appointed time , where they found the soldiers on the post allotted for them by their officer ; on which they all rode off together , and arrived before the walls of the monastery some few minutes before twelve , at which hour precisely the gate was opened , and a woman appeared at it .