noon
His Dulcinea would have none of him or his courting , and he was compelled to retire , as disconsolate a lover as could be seen . To slightly alter the saying of Shakespeare , `` the course of true love never does run smooth , '' but there were surely an unusual number of obstacles in the current of Denzil 's desires . But as he consoled himself with reflecting that the greater the prize the harder it is to win , so it behooved him to do his devoir like a true knight . The next day , at noon , Lucian , armed for the encounter with the evidence of Rhoda and of the cloak , presented himself at the rooms which Count Ferruci temporarily inhabited in Marquis Street . He not only found the Italian ready to receive him , but in full possession of the adventure of the cloak , which , as he admitted , he had learned from Lydia the previous evening . Also , Count Ferruci was extremely indignant , and informed Lucian that he was easily able to clear himself of the suspicion . While he raged on in his fiery Italian way , Denzil , who saw no chance of staying the torrent of words , examined him at his leisure .