Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer

Outside the wall that enclosed the Governor's garden Joshua waited, safe in the shadows. He had a coil of rope in his hand, and had hitched his dagger round so that he might easily come at it. He shivered from time to time, started at small noises, and was finely scared by a marauding black cat. Recovering from this fright he watched the cat slink off, and was moved to shake his fist at it. "What, you doxy! You'll creep up to give me a fright, will you? You may thank my need for quiet that I do not spit you on the end of my knife. " The cat disappeared over the wall. "Ay, over you go, featly as you please, upon your naughty business," said Joshua bitterly. "If a man might get over that wall so easily I should be the better pleased. " He set himself to listen again, but could hear only the rustle of the light wind through the trees. "Can he make it? " muttered Joshua. "I do not doubt, no, but I confess I shall be the more at ease when I see you safe beside me, master. Ha, what's this?"

He listened intently, heard the sound of voices on the other side, but could not catch what was said. A door slammed, he heard the gravel scrunch under a heavy boot, a sound as of a grounded halberd, and a murmur of voices.