It all looked like an ocean, a world, magnified by the darkness, the cold, and their own secret fears.

At first the gentlemen could neither hear nor see anything.

The quiver of light and of distant sound blinded their eyes and confused their ears.

Granoux, though he was not naturally poetic, was struck by the calm serenity of that winter night, and murmured: "What a beautiful night, gentlemen!" "Roudier was certainly dreaming," exclaimed Rougon, rather disdainfully.
But the marquis, whose ears were quick, had begun to listen.

"Ah!" he observed in his clear voice, "I hear the tocsin." At this they all leant over the parapet, holding their breath.