midday before
But there was no human being to be seen . Then , apparently having taken a resolution , he went into the dilapidated remains of the old convent , and ascended a stair to the room where his sole companion , the lay brother , was ill in bed . He gave the sick man a potion , placed a cup with drink by his side , smoothed his pillow , and replaced a crucifix at the bed-foot before the patient 's eyes ; and then , with a word of consolation , descended again to the road , and after a long look towards the forest , slowly moved off the nearest border of it . It was between eight and nine when Father Fabiano , moving slowly and irresolutely , thus sauntered off in the direction of the forest ; but it was nearly time for him to sound the `` Angelus '' at midday before he returned . Perhaps it was the fear that he might be late for this duty , -- a task which devolved on him , the lay brother being ill , -- that made his steps , as he returned , very different from those with which he had set forth . He came back hurrying , with a haggard , wild terror in his eyes , shaking in every limb , and with great drops of perspiration standing on his brow . One would have said that all this evident perturbation could not be caused only by the fear of being late to ring the `` Angelus . ''