noon
For his own part , Weisspriess said that he should quit Italy at once ; he had here to skewer the poor devils , one or two weekly , or to play the mightily generous ; in short , to do things unsoldierly ; and he was desirous of getting away from the country . General Schoneck was at Monza , and might arrange the matter for them both . Promotion was to be looked for in Hungary ; the application would please the General ; one battle would restore the lieutenant 's star to Wilfrid 's collar . Wilfrid , who had been offended by his companion 's previous brooding silence , nodded briefly , and they stopped at Monza , where they saw General Schoneck in the morning , and Wilfrid being by extraordinary favour in civilian 's dress during his leave of absence , they were jointly invited to the General 's table at noon , though not to meet any other officer . General Schoneck agreed with Weisspriess that Hungary would be a better field for Wilfrid ; said he would do his utmost to serve them in the manner they wished , and dismissed them after the second cigar . They strolled about the city , glad for reasons of their own to be out of Milan as long as the leave permitted . At night , when they were passing a palace in one of the dark streets , a feather , accompanied by a sharp sibilation from above , dropped on Wilfrid 's face .