midnight
That you may have time to escape , the lettre de cachet is not to go into effect until to-morrow morning . But the morrow is close at hand : hark ! -- the clock strikes eleven , and you have but one hour . If after midnight you are found within the gates of Paris , your doom is certain . The spies of Louvois are close at hand ; they watch before your palace-gates , and await the twelfth stroke of the iron tongue that speaks from the towers of Notre Dame , to force their way into the very room wherein we stand . If they pass the threshold of the palace you are irretrievably lost ! '' The countess spoke not a word in reply .