midday
she gaily responded . `` Do not distress yourself ; it is pleasant to live . And now let us go upstairs , my aunt must be waiting . '' The midday meal was served at one o'clock , and on the few occasions when Pierre did not eat at one or another restaurant a cover was laid for him at the ladies ' table in the little dining-room of the second floor , overlooking the courtyard . At the same hour , in the sunlit dining-room of the first floor , whose windows faced the Tiber , the Cardinal likewise sat down to table , happy in the society of his nephew Dario , for his secretary , Don Vigilio , who also was usually present , never opened his mouth unless to reply to some question . And the two services were quite distinct , each having its own kitchen and servants , the only thing at all common to them both being a large room downstairs which served as a pantry and store-place . Although the second-floor dining-room was so gloomy , saddened by the greeny half-light of the courtyard , the meal shared that day by the two ladies and the young priest proved a very gay one .