noon
returned Berenice . Ten hours later Lucien awoke to meet Coralie 's eyes . She had watched by him as he slept ; he knew it , poet that he was . It was almost noon , but she still wore the delicate dress , abominably stained , which she meant to lay up as a relic . Lucien understood all the self-sacrifice and delicacy of love , fain of its reward . He looked into Coralie 's eyes . In a moment she had flung off her clothing and slipped like a serpent to Lucien 's side .