four o’clock
By this Madame de Merret understood that Rosalie had spoken to Gorenflot . They all three then saw the face of a dark , gloomy-looking man , with black hair and flaming eyes . `` Before her husband turned round again the poor woman had nodded to the stranger , to whom the signal was meant to convey , ` Hope . ' `` At four o'clock , as the day was dawning , for it was the month of September , the work was done . The mason was placed in charge of Jean , and Monsieur de Merret slept in his wife 's room . `` Next morning when he got up he said with apparent carelessness , ` Oh , by the way , I must go to the Maire for the passport . ' He put on his hat , took two or three steps towards the door , paused , and took the crucifix .