noon
`` You must not think that your task is an easy one , '' she said meaningly . `` There are other men in the world , you know . '' The Grand Duke and his party left Interlaken by special train early in the afternoon , and great was Robin 's relief when Hobbs returned with the word that they were safely on their way to the capital of Switzerland . He emerged from the seclusion of his room , where he had been in hiding since noon , and set out for a walk through the town . His head was high and his stride jaunty , for his heart was like a cork . People stared after him with smiles of admiration , and never a _ cocher ' _ passed him by without a genial , inviting tilt of the eyebrow and a tentative pull at the reins , only to meet with a pleasant shake of the head or the negative flourish of a bamboo cane . Night came and with it the silvery glow of moonlight across the hoary headed queen of the Oberland .