noon
Moreover , as compared with the fate of the musician , Cucurullo cared little what became of Ortensia ; for his devotion to his master filled his whole life , whereas the young girl 's only claim to his attachment was that Stradella was in love with her . On the other hand , the pious serving-man saw in the present separation of the two a special intervention of Providence for the purpose of keeping the lovers apart till they could be duly and properly married . From this point of view to putting Ortensia out of his thoughts altogether was only a step , and he devoted every energy to the liberation of his master . Having come to this conclusion in a much shorter time than it has taken to explain his reasons , he again thanked his new friend , promising to come back for dinner at noon , and adding that he would go over to the castle gate and gather such information as he could . He was hindered from doing so at once , however , by the preparations for the Nuncio 's departure , which has been already described . He mixed with the crowd that had gathered to see the sight , and waited till some time had elapsed after the Legate and the guard had gone in before he approached the drawbridge . The single sentinel had now returned to his beat , but half-a-dozen of the halberdiers were loitering about the door of the guard-room within the deep archway , at some distance from the gate .