nine in the morning
In her entire preoccupation with Mr. Rassendyll , she gave little thought to what might have happened at the hunting lodge ; but Bernenstein drew gloomy auguries from the failure of Sapt and myself to return at the proper time . Either evil had befallen us , or the letter had reached the king before we arrived at the lodge ; the probabilities seemed to him to be confined to these alternatives . Yet when he spoke in this strain to the queen , he could get from her nothing except , `` If we can find Mr. Rassendyll , he will tell us what to do . '' Thus , then , a little after nine in the morning the queen 's carriage drove up to my door . The ladies of the chancellor 's family had enjoyed a very short night 's rest , for their heads came bobbing out of window the moment the wheels were heard ; many people were about now , and the crown on the panels attracted the usual small crowd of loiterers . Bernenstein sprang out and gave his hand to the queen . With a hasty slight bow to the onlookers , she hastened up the two or three steps of the porch , and with her own hand rang the bell .