noon
Now you see ! Think shame of your suspicious temper ! You should go down upon your bended knees both to that gentleman and me . '' A little before noon , Otto , by a triumph of manoeuvring , effected his escape . He was quit in this way of the ponderous gratitude of Mr. Killian , and of the confidential gratitude of poor Ottilia ; but of Fritz he was not quit so readily . That young politician , brimming with mysterious glances , offered to lend his convoy as far as to the high-road ; and Otto , in fear of some residuary jealousy , and for the girl 's sake , had not the courage to gainsay him ; but he regarded his companion with uneasy glances , and devoutly wished the business at an end . For some time Fritz walked by the mare in silence ; and they had already traversed more than half the proposed distance when , with something of a blush , he looked up and opened fire .