Yes, the cornice was there! Scarcely wide enough for a cat to walk, but if he got through in time he would risk it.

He must risk it! But would he get through in time?
He set to work again feverishly until suddenly a familiar sound reached his ear from outside; the sound of a cat purring! Could it be Down?
She had not found them out in their new prison, but if she had happened to be on the roof when he looked out of the window she might have seen him or smelled him--yes! There was a white cat on the cornice, and the next moment Down was on the sill, arching her back and purring away contentedly.
So she had found them at last--no! not _them_, for the Heir-to-Empire was not there--he had been stolen away! Roy could have leaned his head on Down's soft fur and cried his heart out in despair at his own helplessness, but he set his teeth instead and dug harder with the sword point.
Would the bar never loosen?
So the minutes passed without a sound save the grating of the eager sword and the soft, soothing purr of the cat as she sat beside him watching him indifferently.

Then suddenly the latter ceased and Down leaped swiftly to the floor of the cell.

Doubtless she heard something.

Cats hear so many things humans do not hear, and they seem to know so many things humans do not know, so perhaps she heard a mouse far down the arched passage, or even in the next cell.