about noon
The signorina is now lying in bed with burning cheeks , raving in delirium . '' `` And who is attending the patient ? '' `` I came to you about the physician , my dear sir , for Doctor de Bout , who instantly obeyed my summons , was treated so badly by the old excellenza , that he turned his back upon her and told me , at the door of the house , he would n't come again . '' Wilhelm shook his head , and the Italian continued , `` There are other doctors in Leyden , but Father Damianus says de Bont or Bontius , as they call him , is the most skilful and learned of them all , and as the old excellenza herself had an attack of illness about noon , and certainly wo n't leave her bed very speedily , the way is open , and Father Damianus says he 'll go to Doctor Bontius himself if necessary . But as you are a native of the city and acquainted with the signorina , I wanted to spare him the rebuff he would probably meet from the foe of our holy Church . The poor man has enough to suffer from good-for-nothing boys and scoffers , when he goes through the city with the sacrament . '' `` You know people are strictly forbidden to disturb him in the exercise of his calling . ''