an hour after midnight
For without spending another second in the survey , he drew back from the window , plunged his hand under his bed mat , drew forth the file , and commenced rasping away at the bar . Not noisily or in any excited haste . Even if the obstacle were removed , the time had not come for his attempt to pass out . He would wait for an hour after midnight , when all had gone to their beds . Eaten with rust , the iron was easily sawed through , a clean cut being made near its lower end . Then , laying aside the file , and grasping the bar , he wrenched it out of the solderings . If diminutive in body , his arms were sinewy and strong as those of a coal-heaver .