eight o'clock
Father Fouchard had taken alarm , and on Sunday he dispatched a messenger to the francs-tireurs to inform them that their supply of bread would be forwarded to the quarries of Boisville , a lonely spot a mile and a quarter from the house , and as Prosper had other work to do the old man sent Silvine with the wheelbarrow . It was manifest to the young woman that Destiny had taken the matter in its hands ; she spoke , she made an appointment with Sambuc for the following evening , and there was no tremor in her voice , as if she were pursuing a course marked out for her from which she could not depart . The next day there were still other signs which proved that not only sentient beings , but inanimate objects as well , favored the crime . In the first place Father Fouchard was called suddenly away to Raucourt , and knowing he could not get back until after eight o'clock , instructed them not to wait dinner for him . Then Henriette , whose night off it was , received word from the hospital late in the afternoon that the nurse whose turn it was to watch was ill and she would have to take her place ; and as Jean never left his chamber under any circumstances , the only remaining person from whom interference was to be feared was Prosper . It revolted the chasseur d'Afrique , the idea of killing a man that way , three against one , but when his brother arrived , accompanied by his faithful myrmidons , the disgust he felt for the villainous crew was lost in his detestation of the Prussians ; sure he was n't going to put himself out to save one of the dirty hounds , even if they did do him up in a way that was not according to rule ; and he settled matters with his conscience by going to bed and burying his head under the blankets , that he might hear nothing that would tempt him to act in accordance with his soldierly instincts . It lacked a quarter of seven , and Charlot seemed determined not to go to sleep .