noon
she exclaimed suddenly . `` I 'll go right down to the intelligence office and get anything in the shape of a maid and put her in charge of the Polydore caravansary with double wages and every night out and any other privileges she requests . '' This seemed a sane and sensible arrangement , and I wended my way to my office feeling that we were out of the woods . When I returned home at noon , I found that we had only exchanged the woods for water -- and deep water at that . I beheld a strange sight . Silvia sat by our bedroom window twittering soft , cooing nonsensical nothings to Diogenes , who was clasped in her arms , his flushed little face pressed close to her shoulder . `` He 's been quite ill , Lucien .