midday
No one knew what took place at this repast save that the distinguished guest was in wonderful humour ; he joked and laughed and told funny stories ; he was enchanted with the wine and the excellent local crayfish and announced his intention of buying a little villa wherein to spend the evening of his days , after his public labours were over . An ideal spot ! Lucky people , he called them . It was most unfortunate that he would be obliged to leave by to-morrow 's midday boat , and so miss the greater part of the festival of Saint Eulalia . Another little item of news was allowed to filter out and sedulously propagated , to the effect that the Commendatore had refused , politely but firmly , to accept any remuneration for his services . Such a thing could not be thought of ! Pleasure and duty rarely coincided as in this case , where it was both a pleasure to come to this charming island and a duty to say a few words in Court about this unfortunate young man -- to defend the oppressed to the utmost of his miserable ability , and thereby approve himself a good son of the Church .