noon
But , Your Majesty , we think to be forgiven , if we desire the honor of the deliverance to be accounted to the Holy Mother who has had our fathers in care for so many ages , and redeemed them miraculously in instances within Your Majesty 's knowledge . Wherefore to our purpose ... . We have been deputed by the Brotherhoods in Constantinople , united in devotion to the Most Blessed Madonna of Blacherne , to pray your permission to take the _ Panagia _ from the Church of the Virgin of Hodegetria , where it has been since the week of the Passover , and intrust it to the pious women of the city . To-morrow at noon , Your Majesty consenting , they will assemble at the Acropolis , and with the banner at their head , go in procession along the walls and to every threatened gate , never doubting that at the sight of it the Sultan and his unbaptized hordes will be reft of breath of body or take to flight ... . This we pray of Your Majesty , that the Mother of God may in these degenerate days have back the honor and worship accorded her by the Emperors and Greeks of former times . '' The old man ceased , and again fell upon his knees , while his associate deputies rang the space with loud _ Amens _ . It was well the light was dim , and the Emperor 's face in shadow ; it was well the posture of the petitioners helped hide him from close study ; a feeling mixed of pity , contempt , and unutterable indignation seized him , distorting his features , and shaking his whole person .