noon
The Duke gave way to his joy by a loud exclamation , and then recapitulated the articles of the engagement , to which Harold simply bowed his head . Amicably then the Duke embraced the Earl , and the two returned towards the tent . While the steeds were brought forth , William took the opportunity to draw Odo apart ; and , after a short whispered conference , the prelate hastened to his barb , and spurred fast to Bayeux in advance of the party . All that day , and all that night , and all the next morn till noon , courtiers and riders went abroad , north and south , east and west , to all the more famous abbeys and churches in Normandy , and holy and awful was the spoil with which they returned for the ceremony of the next day . The stately mirth of the evening banquet seemed to Harold as the malign revel of some demoniac orgy . He thought he read in every face the exultation over the sale of England . Every light laugh in the proverbial ease of the social Normans rang on his ear like the joy of a ghastly Sabbat .