noon
In the end I had recourse to my friend the cutler , who suggested hiding a hundred crowns of it in my cap , and deftly contrived a place for the purpose . This , the cap being lined with steel , was a matter of no great difficulty . A second hundred I sewed up in the stuffing of my saddle , placing the remainder in my pouch for present necessities . A small rain was falling in the streets when , a little after noon , I started with my two knaves behind me and made for the north gate . So many were moving this way and the other that we passed unnoticed , and might have done so had we numbered six swords instead of three . When we reached the rendezvous , a mile beyond the gate , we found Fresnoy already there , taking shelter in the lee of a big holly-tree . He had four horsemen with him , and on our appearance rode forward to meet us , crying heartily , ` Welcome , M. le Capitaine ! '