eight o'clock in the morning
They had been about half-an-hour together when they heard steps approaching the door , and a key turning in the lock . Bathilde started , and pressed D'Harmental convulsively against her heart . Raoul understood the dreadful fear which crossed her mind , and reassured her . It could not be what she dreaded , since the execution was fixed for eight o'clock in the morning , and eleven had only just struck . It was Monsieur de Launay who appeared . `` Monsieur le Chevalier , '' said he , `` have the kindness to follow me . '' `` Alone ? ''