Nothing, not the slightest sound.
"It must have been some rat that you heard," he said, at last.

"Resume your reading." And he began his work again.

This was the only interruption, and a little before four o'clock everything was ready.

The bars were cut, and the ropes, which had been drawn through an opening in the wall, were coiled under the window.
The decisive moment had come.

Bavois took the counterpane from the bed, fastened it over the opening in the door, and filled up the key-hole.
"Now," said he, in the same measured tone which he would have used in instructing his recruits, "attention, sir, and obey the word of command." Then he calmly explained that the escape would consist of two distinct operations; the first in gaining the narrow platform at the base of the tower; the second, in descending to the foot of the precipitous rock.
The abbe, who understood this, had brought Martial two ropes; the one to be used in the descent of the precipice being considerably longer than the other.
"I will fasten the shortest rope under your arms, Monsieur, and I will let you down to the base of the tower.