noon
Now , as a matter of fact , half an hour after Hugh had left the Villa Amette , Ogier had telegraphed to Buisson in Nice , and the latter had come along the Corniche road in a fast car to make his own inquiries and observations upon the pair of Englishmen . Ogier strongly suspected Henfrey of firing the shot , but was , nevertheless , determined to remain inactive and leave the matter to the Prefecture of the Department of Alpes Maritimes . Hence the reason that the well-dressed Frenchman lounged in the hall of the hotel pretending to read the `` Phare du Littoral . '' Just before noon Hugh went to the telephone in the hotel and inquired of Cataldi the progress of his mistress . `` She is just the same , m ' sieur , '' came the voice in broken English . `` _ Santa Madonna ! _ How terrible it all is !