Two o’clock
The whole party entered the monastery , closing and barricading the door behind them to cut off the bandits ' retreat , if they were fortunate enough to meet any . Then they hastened to rejoin their comrades , who , on their side , had united with the captain and his eight men , and were waiting for them in the choir . There was nothing for it but to retire . Two o'clock had just struck ; nearly three hours had been spent in fruitless search . Roland , rehabilitated in the estimation of the gendarmes and the dragoons , who saw that the ex-novice did not shirk danger , regretfully gave the signal for retreat by opening the door of the chapel which looked toward the forest . This time Roland merely closed the door behind him , there being no longer any hope of encountering the brigands . Then the little troop returned to Bourg at a quick step .