about noon
It seemed there was trouble afoot ; the sails of the windmill , as they came up and went down over the hill , were like persons spying ; and outside of all fancy , it was surely a strange neighbourhood and house for a young lady to be brought to dwell in . At breakfast , which we took late , it was manifest that James More was in some danger or perplexity ; manifest that Alan was alive to the same , and watched him close ; and this appearance of duplicity upon the one side and vigilance upon the other , held me on live coals . The meal was no sooner over than James seemed to come to a resolve , and began to make apologies . He had an appointment of a private nature in the town -LRB- it was with the French nobleman , he told me -RRB- and we would please excuse him till about noon . Meanwhile , he carried his daughter aside to the far end of the room , where he seemed to speak rather earnestly and she to listen without much inclination . `` I am caring less and less about this man James , '' said Alan . `` There 's something no right with the man James , and I wouldnae wonder but what Alan Breck would give an eye to him this day .