noon
The orange curtain no longer hid the third nymph . But the blood which had left Dorothea 's face rushed back as she saw that the trinket had been roughly erased . `` It was quite a _ coup _ , but M. Raoul loves an audience . '' Shortly before noon the road by the bridge was reported to be clear . Carriages were announced , and the guests shook hands and were rolled away -- the elder glum , their juniors in boisterous spirits . As each carriage passed the bridge , where M. Raoul stood among the workmen , handkerchiefs fluttered out , and he lifted his hat gaily in response . '' _ Ubicunque vicit Romanus habitat _ , -- Where the Roman conquered he settled -- and it is from his settlements that to-day we deduce his conquests .