noon
This glorious heraldic material is a Science of State . Though it is not absolutely necessary that all gentlemen should know how to compose and blazon arms , it is Very Important for them to know their Own and not be ignorant of Those of Others . It is the office of the Heralds to form , charge , break , crown and add Supporters to , the coats of those who by some Brave and Generous action have shown their High and Lofty virtues ; whereof Kings make use to recompense to their gentry this mark of Honour and Dignity ; that so they may Impel each to goodly conduct on those occasions where Men of Stout Hearts acquire Glory for themselves , and Their Posterity ... '' In his chamber , on the day when he bought it , he left it on the table and the open page began -- `` The glorious house of _ MONTMORENCY _ beareth a shield of gold with a scarlet cross , cantoned with sixteen azure eagles , four by four . '' At noon , on a day late in October , 1786 , the Merchant of St. Elphège sat at the pine dinner-table in his kitchen , opposite his wife , resting his wooden soup spoon on its butt on the table . The windows , both front and rear , were wide open , for one of those rare fragrant golden days of late autumn still permitted it . He was listening , with some of the stolid Indian manner , to his wife reading Germain 's letter . He vouchsafed only one remark , and that a mercantile one : `` Seven weeks , mon Dieu !