The falling of a great drop near him made him open his eyes.

After the first moment of numbness he recognised the arch on the right, where the road begins which leads down to Santa Scolastica, to Subiaco, to Rome; and on the left the path which rises toward the Sacro Speco.

He noticed with astonishment that on both sides, beyond the evergreen oaks, the bare rocks looked much whiter than before; that many little streaks of light were glinting through the foliage above his head.

Dawn?
Was it dawn?
Benedetto had thought it was little past midnight.

The hour struck at Santa Scolastica--one, two, three, four.