noon
Let us make an end of it at once , for it were better for us to perish than to suffer . It is surely not a sin to kill such a devil in human form . '' It happened once , before the Easter holidays , that one of these meetings was held in the woods , where Michael had sent the serfs to make a clearance for their master . At noon they assembled to eat their dinner and to hold a consultation . `` Why ca n't we leave now ? '' said one . `` Very soon we shall be reduced to nothing .