about noon
He wept with his eyes fixed upon the crucifix , upon Christ , to whom in her last moments she surely yielded herself up with the fullest confidence , like that other dear one , like his Elisa ; he wept in gratitude to her , who even from that unknown world was kind to him , and softened his heart . He recalled the last words he had heard her speak : `` Then shall we never meet again ? '' In his prophetic soul he smiled , turned to the open window , and gazed upon the great planet . A small band of workmen was coming towards Via della Marmorata , It was about noon , and they had been at work on a house in course of construction in Via Galvani . Seeing little groups of people standing under the trees , other little groups at the doors , and people also at the windows of the two last houses on the right and left , a workman , who was following the others at a short distance , called out in a loud voice to his companions : `` What a lot of fools for one knave ! '' A big , bearded man , who was standing on the threshold of a small shop , heard this , and , coming forward , accosted him threateningly . `` What 's that you say ? ''