the hour of ten
A quarter of an hour later Henri de Montorgueil was wending his way back to the hiding place which had sheltered him and his father for so long . Silence and darkness then held undisputed sway once more around the hollow tree . Even the rain had ceased its gentle pattering . Anon from far away came the sound of a church bell striking the hour of ten . Then nothing more . A few more minutes of absolute silence , then something dark and furtive began to move out of the long grass which bordered the roadside -- something that in movement was almost like a snake . It dragged itself along close to the ground , making no sound as it moved .