seven o'clock
Political secrets , bedside revelations , hints or scraps of conversation dropped by the courtiers on the threshold of the royal antechamber , in this way D'Artagnan managed to ascertain and to put away everything in the vast and impenetrable tomb of his memory , by the side of those royal secrets so dearly bought and faithfully preserved . He therefore knew of the king 's interview with Colbert , and of the appointment made for the ambassadors in the morning , and consequently he knew that the question of the medals would be brought under debate ; and , while he was arranging and constructing the conversation upon a few chance words which had reached his ears , he returned to his post in the royal apartments , so as to be there at the very moment the king would awake . It happened that the king woke very early -- proving thereby that he , too , on his side , had slept but indifferently . Toward seven o'clock , he half-opened his door very gently . D'Artagnan was at his post . His majesty was pale , and seemed wearied ; he had not , moreover , quite finished dressing . `` Send for M. de Saint-Aignan , '' he said .