midday
Then a horrible , sleepless night , shaken with echoes of explosions and the clamor of the wounded ; and the solemn shade of Pere Alexis , stretching out toward Rouletabille a phial of poison and saying , `` Either Natacha or you ! '' Then , rising among the shades the bloody form of Michael Nikolaievitch the Innocent ! In the morning a note from the Marshal of the Court . Monsieur le Marechal had no particular good news , evidently , for in terms quite without enthusiasm he invited the young man to luncheon for that same day , rather early , at midday , as he wished to see him once more before he left for France . `` I see , '' said Rouletabille to himself ; `` Monsieur le Marechal pronounces my expulsion from the country '' -- and he forgot once more the Gounsovski luncheon . The meeting-place named was the great restaurant called the Bear . Rouletabille entered it promptly at noon .