noon
shouted Manuel , and , flinging his wife behind him , he sent the glove , with a stinging blow , full in his opponent 's face . Then the wild beast that lurks in every strong man 's blood leaped up in Gilbert Redmond 's , as , with a single gesture of his sinewy right arm he swept Manuel to the verge of the narrow ledge , saw him hang poised there one awful instant , struggling to save the living weight that weighed him down , heard a heavy plunge into the black pool below , and felt that thrill of horrible delight which comes to murderers alone . So swift and sure had been the act it left no time for help . A rush , a plunge , a pause , and then two figures stood where four had been -- a man and woman staring dumbly at each other , appalled at the dread silence that made high noon more ghostly than the deepest night . And with that moment of impotent horror , remorse , and woe , Pauline 's long punishment began .