But just when they are about to enter through the windows, they hear a noise within.

This gives them a fright.

They run away to the woods.

There, amidst the stillness and darkness of the night, they lie down and before long fall fast asleep.
When Frederick had got to this part of the story he began to play softer and softer, and ever softer, till his auditors, like the robbers, were fast asleep.

Noticing this he stole out of the room, called in the other inmates of the house, who came carrying lights with them, and then with a tremendous, crashing chord disturbed the sweet slumbers of the evil-doers.
Here we have an instance of "la richesse de son improvisation," by which, as Fontana tells us, Chopin, from his earliest youth, astonished all who had the good fortune to hear him.