noon
A deep , low , growling hum , as of ten thousand angry voices , drifted upon the night air . The beast called the Alexandrian rabble was loose , and it was a terrible animal . It was midnight . Drusus had toiled since noon . He had hardly tasted food or drink since morning , but there were three feet more of brick , stone , and rubbish to be added still to this and that rampart before it would be secure , and a whole wing of the overgrown palace must be pulled down to furnish the material . He had climbed out upon the roof to aid in tearing up the tiles and to encourage the men by his example , when some one plucked him from behind on the cloak -- it was Cæsar . `` You are not needed here , '' said the general , in a voice that seemed a bit strained to keep calm .