noon
His senses flamed . He was as certain that Marcolina and Lieutenant Lorenzi were in love with one another as if he had seen them in a passionate embrace . He was just as ready to detest the unknown Lorenzi as to long for the never seen Marcolina . Through the shimmering haze of noon , a small , square tower now became visible , thrusting upward through the greyish-green foliage . The carriage turned into a by-road . To the left were vineyards rising on a gentle slope ; to the right the crests of ancient trees showed above the wall of a garden . The carriage halted at a doorway in the wall .