noon
The voice of scandal , however , soon began to mingle with that of envy at the pomp of Otho . The fair Greek , it was said , weary of her lord , lavished her smiles on others ; the young and the fair were always most acceptable at the castle ; and , above all , her guilty love for the Templar scarcely affected disguise . Otho alone appeared unconscious of the rumour ; and though he had begun to neglect his bride , he relaxed not in his intimacy with the Templar . It was noon , and the Greek was sitting in her bower alone with her suspected lover ; the rich perfumes of the East mingled with the fragrance of flowers , and various luxuries , unknown till then in those northern shores , gave a soft and effeminate character to the room . `` I tell thee , '' said the Greek , petulantly , `` that he begins to suspect ; that I have seen him watch thee , and mutter as he watched , and play with the hilt of his dagger . Better let us fly ere it is too late , for his vengeance would be terrible were it once roused against us . Ah , why did I ever forsake my own sweet land for these barbarous shores !