noon
Were there not hundreds of others ready to do so , only that fear of the people 's fickleness and half-heartedness held them back ? So the carefully secreted arms were taken out again . There were stir and determination in every corner of the city . The word had gone forth that the day so long looked for had indeed come ; that before nightfall Sturatzberg would be in their hands ; that Maritza , their sovereign , would most surely come amongst them in the Grande Place to lead them , and that by noon all loyal men must win their way there . It was no mere rabble to whom this command was given . Some organization , at least , had been proceeding for a long time . Points of meeting were known .