midday
The shadow had melted into the definite Eternity of Shadows . Andrew rose early , dressed , and , according to his athletic custom , took his swinging hour 's walk through the streets still fresh with the lingering coolness of the night , and then , after breakfast , entered Elodie 's room . But she was still fast asleep . She seldom rose till near midday . It was only after lunch , a preoccupied meal , that they found the opportunity for discussion , in the little stuffy courtyard of the hotel , set round with dusty tubs of aloes and screened with a trellis of discontented vine . They sat on a rustic bench by a door and then coffee was served on a blistered iron table once painted yellow . There were many flies which disturbed the slumbers of an old mongrel Newfoundland sprawling on the cobbles .