noon
` If I had known this , '' said Fulke , catching his breath , `` I would never have lifted hand against Pevensey . Only lack of this yellow stuff has made me so unlucky in my dealings . '' ` It was dawn then , and they stirred in the Great Hall below . We sent down Fulke 's mail to be scoured , and when he rode away at noon under his own and the King 's banner , very splendid and stately did he show . He smoothed his long beard , and called his son to his stirrup and kissed him . De Aquila rode with him as far as the New Mill landward . We thought the night had been all a dream . '