noon
The transferring of the hurt , took nearly all the morning , and John faithfully performed his part . There was Chastel only a few hundred yards away , now clearly visible despite the massive clouds that floated persistently across the sky . Yet he made no attempt to reach it until his work was done , nor did he speak of it , not even to the chauffeur , Mallet , of whom he had made a good friend . Near noon , the task finished , he ate luncheon and started toward Chastel . His orders from Captain Colton allowed him much liberty , and he was not compelled to account to anyone , when he chose to enter the town . He crossed the stream , muddy from the melting snow , on a small stone bridge , which he believed from its steep arch must date almost back to the time of the Romans , and pausing on the other side looked up once more at Chastel . He had no doubt that , seen in the sunshine and as it was , it had been both picturesque and beautiful .