Eight o'clock
They came stumbling across the stony court and leaned on their rifles while one of them presented arms and received the word from the sentry . Little by little people began to creep up and down the sidewalks , and the noise of wooden shutters announced another day of toil begun . The point of the Luxembourg Palace struck fire as the ghastly gas-lamps faded and went out . Suddenly the great bell of St Sulpice clashed the hour -- Eight o'clock ! Again a bugle blew sharply from the barracks , and a troop of cavalry danced and pawed through the gate , clattering away down the Rue de Seine . Gethryn shut the window and turned into the room . Yvonne stood before the dying embers .