the hour of nine
Opening the boxful of stuff , he spread out upon a tablecloth of newspapers a prettily decorated ham , a couple of cold roast chickens , a fine apple pie , a quantity of mince pies , and a varied assortment of choice fruits and cake . All these arranged to his satisfaction , he looked at his watch , and then sat down and waited . It was just half-past eight , and in another half-hour servants and masters would all have retired for the night . After what appeared to the watcher to be an age the great school clock tolled solemnly out the hour of nine . Then Mont drew out a thick rope from beneath the bed and left the room . Soon he was at the window . Throwing up the lower sash , our hero fastened one end of the rope securely and threw the other out .