noon
The landlord was standing by the window , stooping over a great pair of frayed and furrowed thigh-boots which he was labouring to soften with copious grease . ` Mademoiselle ordered no breakfast , ' he answered , with a malicious grin . ` Well it does not much matter , ' I replied grandly . ` I shall be at Auch by noon . ' ` That is as may be , ' he answered with another grin . I did not understand him , but I had something else to think about , and I opened the door and stepped out , intending to go to the stable . Then in a second I comprehended .