Either his tools were faulty, or the stones he had to work upon were too compact and well built, but beyond getting up the flag, making a hole below it in the hard cement which filled in the space between the floor, large enough to bury a good sized cat, Rupert achieved nothing.
He had gone into prison in November, it was now August, and he was fast coming to the idea that Loches was not to be broken out of by the way in which he was attempting to do it.
One circumstance gave him intense delight.

Adele's hiding place had not been discovered.

This he was sure of by the urgency with which the governor strove to extract from him the secret of her whereabouts.

Their demands were at the last meeting mingled with threats, and Rupert felt that the governor had received stringent orders to wring the truth from him.

So serious did these menaces become that Rupert ceased to labour at the floor of his cell, being assured that ere long some change or other would take place.