Three o'clock
In the meanwhile we would conduct the reader to the appointment that Tom , the brother of the Countess Macgregor , had made with the horrible old woman , the Schoolmaster 's accomplice . Thomas Seyton walked impatiently up and down on one of the boulevards , near the Observatory , till he saw La Chouette appear . The old wretch had on a white cap , and was wrapped up in a large red plaid shawl ; the point of a very sharp dagger stuck through the bottom of the straw basket which she carried on her arm ; but Tom did not perceive it . `` Three o'clock is striking from the Luxembourg , '' said the old woman . `` I am punctual , I think ? '' `` Come , '' answered Seyton ; and walking before her , he crossed some waste ground , entered a deserted street situated near the Rue Cassini , stopped about the middle of the passage , where it was obstructed by a turnstile , opened a small gate , made a sign for La Chouette to follow him , and , after having taken a few steps in an alley shaded with large trees , said , `` Wait here , '' and disappeared . `` I hope he wo n't make me lose too much time , '' said La Chouette ; `` I must be at Bras-Rouge 's at five , to settle the broker .