Explore "The Elusive Pimpernel" by Emma Orczy on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Less than three minutes later, there came to Chauvelin's expectant ears the soft sound made by a woman's skirts against the stone floor. During those three minutes, which had seemed an eternity to his impatience, he had sat silently watching the slumber -- affected or real -- of his enemy.
Directly he heard the word: "Halt! " outside the door, he jumped to his feet. The next moment Marguerite had entered the room.