eight o'clock in the morning
It would be immensely shorter , and the story would be more probable than that we should make such a big detour to get home . '' `` Yes , I should think that would do well , '' Ritzer said , `` and will shorten the way by two hundred miles . But after leaving Passau , I should think that we had better not follow the direct road until we get to Ratisbon . `` I grant that as far as that town we ought to be quite safe , for there is no chance of their finding out that we have escaped until eight o'clock in the morning ; then our colonel will have to report the matter to the commandant in the town . No doubt he will send off a small party of cavalry , by the Freyberg road to Budweis , to order the authorities there to keep a sharp lookout for three men passing north . But I doubt very much whether they will think of sending in this direction . The escape of three Prussian officers is , after all , no very important matter .