the hour of ten
At the close of this address the soldiers saluted , the only way in which the military regulations permitted them to respond . Monte-Cristo and M. Morrel then had a brief conference with the peasant guide , who seemed very intelligent and thoroughly posted as to the bandits and their stronghold . The information he gave was in every respect satisfactory and it was abundantly plain that the man could be implicitly relied upon . Everything was now in readiness and , as the hour of ten was sounded by the clock of the Castle of St. Angelo , the troops headed by Captain Morrel and the Count filed out of the court-yard and began their march . When the open country was reached the guide took up a position a trifle in advance of the detachment and led the way . Complete silence was maintained and the utmost care taken to muffle the tramp of the soldiers ' feet . After marching until nearly midnight , the guide in a low , cautious whisper informed the Count and Maximilian that the bandits ' fastness was close at hand .