midday
We had encountered no difficulties , no dangers in town or country . No one appeared to be interested in us except through idle curiosity ; villagers and peasants stared at us and grinned ; policemen and soldiers stood aside to let us pass , or gave directions politely when requested to do so . There were no signs of pursuit , no indications of trouble ahead . And so we could afford to be gay and confident at our midday meal in the hills bordering the broad highway . We even went so far as to arrange for a jolly reunion in New York City at no distant day ! I remember distinctly that we were to dine at Sherry 's . To me , the day seemed a long way off .