"About an hour, Mijnheer."
"An hour?"
"Yes, fully an hour, Mijnheer."
"And you heard nothing during all this time?"
"I beg your pardon—"
"I asked you if you heard any noise—for instance, the sound of some one hammering wood?"
"No, Mijnheer."
"Yes, gentlemen, she is as deaf as a door-post," said M. Tricamp, turning toward the young men. Then he approached Gudule, and raising his voice he added:
"I suppose the storm was at its height at this time?"
"Oh, yes, Mijnheer; I could hear the thunder plain enough."