midday
said Nic hoarsely . `` She who was to have been my wife . It was her death . '' There was the hot stillness of the Australian midday around them , and for some time neither spoke . Then all at once Leather sprang to his feet . `` There , sir , '' he said , `` you are the first who has heard my tale . The law has branded me a convict , and I can only say ` Please let all this be as if it had never been said . '