noon
Almost all the conversation had then been on the chances of their weathering the tempest , and the probability of its lasting on , and they had hurried away as soon as possible . Anne had not then known who they were , and only saw that they were fairly civil to her , and kept under a certain constraint by Pilpignon , as they called their host . Now she fully knew the one who was addressed as Sir George to be Barclay , the prime mover in the wicked scheme of assassination of which all honest Tories had been so much ashamed , and she could see Captain Burford to be one of those bravoes who were only too plentiful in those days , attending on dissolute and violent nobles . She was the less inclined to admit their attentions , and shielded herself with a grave coldness of stately manners ; but their talk was far more free than at noon , suggesting the thought that they had anticipated the meal with some of the Nantz or other liquors that seemed to be in plenty . They began by low bows of affected reverence , coarser and worse in the ruffian of inferior grade , and the knight complimented Pilpignon on being a lucky dog , and hoped he had made the best use of his time in spite of the airs of his duchess . It was his own fault if he were not enjoying such fair society , while they , poor devils , were buffeting with the winds , which had come on more violently than ever . Peregrine broke in with a question about the vessels in sight .