noon
A monk 's toilet takes not long ; however , Gorenflot took six minutes , and when he came down Chicot was starting . This day passed much like the former one , and by the third , Gorenflot was beginning to get accustomed to it , when towards the evening , Chicot lost all his gaiety . Since noon he had seen nothing of the three travelers ; therefore he was in a very bad humor . They were off at daybreak and galloped till noon , but all in vain ; no mules were visible . Chicot stopped at a turnpike , and asked the man if he had seen three travelers pass on mules . `` Not to-day , '' was the reply , `` yesterday evening about seven . '' `` What were they like ? ''