about noon
Then rising wearily , he sighed for Goliba 's dead daughter , and weighted by his rich robes , slowly strode across to the arched entrance from which the light streamed forth , and as he set foot upon its threshold every proud head bowed to earth in deep , abject obeisance . AT Omar 's request a few days later I accompanied him alone through a private exit of the palace , and ere long we found ourselves unnoticed beyond the ponderous city walls , where two horses , held by a slave , were awaiting us . Mounting , we rode straight for the open country , and not knowing whither we were going or what were my companion 's intentions , we soon left the great city far behind . For fully three hours we pressed forward , my companion avoiding any answer to my questions as to our goal , until about noon we came to a rising mount in the midst of a beautiful country with palms and scattered orange-groves . The scene was a veritable paradise . Beautiful fruits peeped from between the foliage , and every coloured , every scented flower , in agreeable variety intermingled with the grass . Roses and woodbines , very much like those in England , appeared in beauteous contention ; while beneath great trees were rich flocks of birds of various feather .