noon
Did n't you tell me ? '' `` Yes , Monsieur , but -- '' `` We 'll get there early and go out after them at sunset . Now , Domini . '' They rode away in the burning heat of the noon towards the southwest across the vast plains of grey sand , followed at a short distance by Batouch and Ali . `` Monsieur is mad to start in the noon , '' grumbled Batouch . `` But Monsieur is not like Madame . He may live in the desert till he is old and his hair is grey as the sand , but he will never be an Arab in his heart . ''