midday
I beg to be excused . '' She refused more wine and genially overrode Ugolini 's protests . Carefully keeping his face blank , Daoud watched her walk out of the room , tall and straight in a cherry-red gown . He found himself picturing the things they had done not long ago , while Orvieto rested at midday . He turned back to Ugolini to see the little cardinal was also , with a lubricious smile , watching Sophia . Ugolini 's long nose twitched with amusement as he turned to Daoud . `` There have been times when I thought there was a chamber of torment on the top floor of my mansion .