eight o'clock
Apart from him , they had seen no one except an old woman , who ruled over the kitchen and the house , and two men , who kept watch over them by turns and never spoke to them : subordinates , obviously , to judge by their manners and appearance . `` Two accomplices , for all that , '' said Beautrelet , in conclusion , `` or rather three , with the old woman . It is a bag worth having . And , if we lose no time -- '' He jumped on his bicycle , rode to Eguzon , woke up the gendarmerie , set them all going , made them sound the boot and saddle and returned to Crozant at eight o'clock , accompanied by the sergeant and eight gendarmes . Two of the men were posted beside the gipsy-van . Two others took up their positions outside the postern-door . The last four , commanded by their chief and accompanied by Beautrelet and Valmeras , marched to the main entrance of the castle .