noon
`` Monsieur , you are pitiless , '' he protested in a tone of indignation for which I would gladly have embraced him . I feigned to ponder . `` The matter needs consideration . Tell Mademoiselle that I will discuss it with her at noon , if she will condescend to await me on the terrace ; I will then give her my definite reply . And now , Lieutenant , let us breakfast . '' As completely as I had duped Montrésor did I presently dupe those of the troopers with whom I came in contact , among others the sergeant -- and anon the Chevalier himself . From the brief interview that I had with him I discovered that whilst he but vaguely suspected me to be St. Auban -- and when I say `` he suspected me '' I mean he suspected him whose place I had taken -- he was , nevertheless , aware of the profit which his captor , whoever he might be , derived from this business .