noon
Heywood appeared promptly at the door . From the road , below , a gleeful voice piped : -- `` Goat-men ! Baby-killers ! '' In the noon blaze , Pêng skipped derisively , jeered at them , performed a brief but indecorous pantomime , and then , kicking up his heels with joy , scurried for his life . `` Chucked his billet , '' said Heywood , without surprise . `` Little devil , I always thought -- What 's missing ? '' Rudolph scanned his meagre belongings , rummaged his dressing-table , opened a wardrobe .