The day had been calm, but with the sunset a light breeze was rising.
He set his teeth hard, and continued to listen.

An hour before sunset was the time they had named for the exchange.

What did it mean?
In five minutes the sun would be below the horizon; already the zone of warmth on the hillside was moving and retreating upwards.

And Bigot and old Badelon?
Why had they left him while he slept?
An hour before sunset! Why, the room was growing grey, grey and dark in the corners, and--what was that?
He started, so violently that he jarred his leg, and the pain wrung a groan from him.

At the foot of the bed, overlooked until then, a woman lay prone on the floor, her face resting on her outstretched arms.