noon
`` Of course , '' continued the old man , `` I would not permit it . Whilst thanking him for his kindness , I told him that I would offer the reward myself . I left Signor Turchi in company with the merchants , and went to the town-hall for the purpose ; but when I arrived there , I found a decree of the burgomaster already issued , promising three hundred florins for any information of Geronimo . -LSB- 21 -RSB- I spoke with the bailiff at noon . He told me that , notwithstanding the most active search , no trace had yet been discovered of Bufferio 's wife , nor of his companions . All of them must have left the country immediately after the ruffian 's death . But this afternoon the bailiff expects to hear the result of several important researches ordered by him this morning .