About noon
In this event I hoped to have the support of Maignan 's experience . But the party did not arrive . I had to rely on myself and my own resources , and , this being so , determined to refuse the priest 's offer , but in all other things to be guided by circumstances . About noon he came , attended , as was his practice , by two friends , whom he left outside . He looked paler and more shadowy than before , I thought , his hands thinner , and his cheeks more transparent . I could draw no good augury , however , from these , signs of frailty , for the brightness of his eyes and the unusual elation of his manner told plainly of a spirit assured of the mastery . He entered the room with an air of confidence , and addressed me in a tone of patronage which left me in no doubt of his intentions ; the frankness with which he now laid bare his plans going far to prove that already he considered me no better than his tool .