noon
Ebbo began to long for an interruption , but , though he could see by the lightened sky that the weather had cleared up , it would have been impossible to have suggested to any guest that the way might now probably be open , and more especially to such a guest as this . Considerate as his visitor had been the night before , the pleasure of talk seemed to have done away with the remembrance of his host 's weakness , till Ebbo so flagged that at last he was scarcely alive to more than the continued sound of the voice , and all the pain that for a while had been in abeyance seemed to have mastered him ; but his guest , half reading his books , half discoursing , seemed too much immersed in his own plans , theories , and adventures , to mark the condition of his auditor . Interruption came at last , however . There was a sudden knock at the door at noon , and with scant ceremony Heinz entered , followed by three other of the men-at-arms , fully equipped . `` Ha ! what means this ? '' demanded Ebbo .