noon
`` The chaste Malcolm the Maiden revived in one of his descendants ! '' said Ramorny . `` Favour me , sir , by a truce to your wit , or by choosing a different subject for its career . It is noon , I believe , and you will oblige me by commanding them to serve up dinner . '' Ramorny left the room ; but Rothsay thought he discovered a smile upon his countenance , and to be the subject of this man 's satire gave him no ordinary degree of pain . He summoned , however , the knight to his table , and even admitted Dwining to the same honour . The conversation was of a lively and dissolute cast , a tone encouraged by the Prince , as if designing to counterbalance the gravity of his morals in the morning , which Ramorny , who was read in old chronicles , had the boldness to liken to the continence of Scipio .