But he saw nothing that he could do.

He must wait upon the action of his jailers.

Having come to this conclusion he lay upon his pallet, and let vague thoughts float through his head as they would.
About three hours after they had brought him his soup he heard a scratching at the keyhole of his door.

He was not too languid to be surprised.

He did not think it likely that any of his jailers would come back so soon, and heretofore the key had always turned in the lock without noise.
Ned sat up.