noon
Be thou watchful and vigilant , and keep thine eyes and thine ears alike open . Heed well that the gates be closed early , and that all be made safe , and let not Brother Emmanuel adventure himself without the walls . Use all discretion and heed , and fare thee well . I shall reach the coast tonight , and do my business with all speed , and be in the saddle again with the light of dawn , so thou mayest look to see us again before noon . '' And with a tender farewell to his wife , the knight mounted and rode away with his gallant little train ; and the lady looked after him from the window , and said to Edred , who quickly came to her to learn more , if he could , of the words he had recently heard : `` Now may the blessed saints and our Lord Himself be with him ! for no braver and truer gentleman lives in the length and breadth of this land . There be few , indeed , who would imperil their own safety rather than yield up one who is after all little more than a stranger .