eight o'clock
The next day Mrs. Lanview gave him the details of the meditated escape . There were only sixty or a hundred in position to avail themselves of the subterranean way that had been toilsomely dug , by a few devoted spirits , with tools casually dropped among them by the guileless Veronica during her daily visits . The plotters counted on at least six hours ' start before discovery . The guards were not to be disturbed , and the evasion would not be known until eight o'clock , when the miserable breakfast ration was distributed . Of that amazing-exploit , the digging through twenty solid feet of earth and stone , I do not propose to tell . It is to be found in the journals of the day : it is contained in the hundred pathetic narratives of the men who took part . It has nothing to do with this history beyond the use made of it to mislead the ingenious Barney , and in the end complicate the careers of those in whom we are interested .