noon
` One way or another , ' Milo tells us , ` every man of the House of Anjou had his unapproachable side , so accustomed were they to the fortress-life . ' A broad plain , watered by many rivers , showed the towers of Louviers and red roofs cinctured by the greatest of them ; short of the walls were the ranked white tents , columned smoke , waggons , with men and horses , as purposeless , little , and busy as a swarm of bees . In the midst of this array was a red pavilion with a standard at the side , too heavy for the wind . All was set in the clear sunless air of an autumn day in Normandy ; the hour , one short of noon . Richard reined up for his company , on a little hill . ` The powers of England , my lords , ' he said , pointing with his hand . All stayed beside him .