noon
And his voice , though changed , had not lost all its strength and harshness . `` Did the Constable need a splint when you laid him under the tower at Gaeta ? '' The old man lifted his eyes from his task , and glanced through the nearest window . `` It is long from noon to night , '' he said quietly , `` and far from cup to lip , my lord ! '' `` It would be if I had two legs , '' Tavannes answered , with a grimace , half - snarl , half-smile . `` As it is -- where is that dagger ? It leaves me every minute . ''