noon
`` When I has no orders I acts on regulation . I brought no one with me because I had no one to bring , having sent , as per regulation , my one remaining man to give notice to the water service , seeing that that there schooner has had the impudence to come back , and is at this very moment cruising quite happy-like just the other side of the bank ; though if ever their cutter overhauls her -- well , I 'm a Dutchman ! You might have done wiser , perhaps -LRB- if I may make so bold as to remark -RRB- , to leave the management of this business to them as understands such things . As to being late , sir , you told me to be in the ruins at twelve noon , and I beg to insinuate that it 's only just past the hour now . '' At this point the preventive man drew from his capacious breeches a brass time-piece , of congenial stoutness , the face of which he turned towards the magistrate . The latter , however , waved the proffered witness impatiently aside . Furtively watching his cousin , who , leaning against the door-post , her pale head thrown out in strong relief by the dark stones , stood as if absolutely detached from her surroundings , communing over troubled thoughts with her own soul , he said with deliberate distinctness : `` But have I been misled , then , in understanding that you were with the unfortunate officer who was so ferociously assaulted this morning ?