D'Arblay had arranged that he would not return that night, but would sleep at the chateau of the gentleman he was going to visit.
"I will get him to send around to our other friends, in the morning.

The men will return when they see that all is clear.

Send them back to meet us at the chateau, tomorrow night." The five men returned an hour after they set out, and reported that all was quiet at Merlincourt; and that the Sieur D'Arblay had sent a message, to Philip, to move a few miles farther away before morning, and to return to the wood soon after nightfall.
Philip gave the men six hours to rest themselves and their horses.
They then mounted and rode eight miles farther from Toulouse, halting before daybreak in a thick copse standing on high ground, commanding a view of a wide tract of country.

Two of the troopers were sent off to buy provisions in a village, half a mile away.

Two were placed on watch.