midday
`` Sophia put him in his place by demonstrating to him that she could speak his language better than he could speak Italian , David . There is no end to the arroganzia of these French . '' David was still looking at Sophia . The midday light streaming through the white panes of glass threw sharp shadows under his cheekbones , giving him the gaunt look of a desert saint . _ God 's breath , how I would like to paint his picture . At least I could have that much of him . _ `` Do you think I wanted you to meet him so that you could teach him better manners ? ''