midday
And the horses will be forthcoming , no doubt . ' ` They will be forthcoming , ' said the man . ` And the Excellency 's carriage is ready . ' In the early morning light they drove on , now descending towards the great valley of the Guadiana , and at midday , as Vincente had foreseen , gained a sight of the ancient city of Ciudad Real lying amid trees below them . Ciudad Real is less interesting than its name , and there is little that is royal about its dirty streets and ill-kept houses . No one gave great heed to the travelling-carriage , for this is a great centre where travellers journeying east or west , north or south , must needs pause for a change of horses . At the inn there were vacant rooms , and that hasty welcome accorded to the traveller at wayside houses where none stay longer than they can help .