noon
`` You will not , then , do me the honor of a personal interview ? '' he asked , smiling unprovokably still . `` Cease , cease ! '' replied Haviland , `` It will soon be the noon of plain words ! '' The tempter with nice discernment , perceiving that this short and bold interview was useless , and that he ought to withdraw , put his cigar between his lips , puffed a `` Good-day , gentlemen , '' and turned back meditatively , along the path towards the pines of the Manoir . `` Au plaisir ! '' returned Zotique to him with facetious exactitude .