the hour of nine
As is ever so with low-born churls , and no gentleman to command , each looked to the other for some act of heroism , and each sought his own safety . They stood their ground only an instant , then pulled aside as I had bidden them . As soon as I passed them a decent distance as if I had no fear , I put spurs to my good steed , and , breathing more freely than I had done for many days , heard the merry pounding of his hoofs upon the open way to my mission 's end . The clocks were striking , one after the other in monotonous imitative fashion , the hour of nine when I delivered my horse to a sleepy groom at the little tavern just outside the Versailles gate . Serigny was already in his rooms , intent on some business , and opened his door himself . There was no need for concealing his gratification and the intense impatience he felt to know results , nor did he make any attempt at concealment . On the contrary , he was as urgent as a school child .