Slowly, gradually, as he crouched sleepily before the fire, it grew upon him that there was a noise in the air; a confused sound, not of one cry, but of many, that came from the street, from the rampart.

A noise, now swelling a little, now sinking a little, that seemed as he listened not so distant as it had sounded a while ago.

Not distant at all, indeed; quite close--now! A sound of rushing water, rather soothing; or, as it swelled, a sound of a crowd, a gibing, mocking crowd.

Yes, a crowd.

And then in one instant the change was wrought.
He was on his feet; he was at the door.