noon
till the dawn came , thinking out a plan of action . By that time I was fair convinced that there was naught to be gained by waiting ; waiting makes me impatient as well . I determined to act at once ; and since one day is quite as good as the next , I decided that this day was to see the thing begun . I came before the emperor at noon and received my decorations . Within the hour I had made myself known to the four and ninety men who were to be my command ; a picked company , all of a height and weight , with bodies that lacked little of my own perfection . Never was there a finer guard about the palace . My first care was to pick a quarrel with the outgoing commander .