About twelve o'clock
The vaguely-sailing ships painted upon the wall , destined never to find a port in those unknown seas for which their sails were set -- and that exasperating company opposite , that through all changes of weal or woe danced remorselessly under the greenwood -- were shrouded in misty shadows . Not a sound broke the silence -- nothing save the striking of the clock at Corellia , bringing with it visions of the dark old church -- the kneeling women -- and the peace of God within . Even Argo and his friends -- Juno and Tuzzi , and the bull-dog -- were mute . About twelve o'clock the marchesa arrived from Lucca . In her company came the Cavaliere Trenta and Maestro Guglielmi . Fra Pacifico was in waiting . He received them with grave courtesy .