noon
And when he did not want to eat , she begged him on behalf of her lady . Hippolytus spoke to her and joked , but she would not answer him unless it was something to do with her service . Here was the empress , not moving from her bed until the following day when the emperor had already eaten lunch . After she had dressed she went to chapel to hear mass , and there was a great dispute among the priests as to whether they should read the scriptures , because it was already past noon . Hippolytus remained in the sitting room with this pleasure for a week . When the lady saw that he was quite exhausted , she asked him to leave , telling him to return to her chamber another day after he had rested , and he could take her as he pleased . And from a box where she kept her jewelry the empress took out a gold chain , and put it around his neck , saying : `` Pray God that I may live , Hippolytus , because I will be surprised if I do n't put a crown on your head before many years have passed .