noon
`` They played cards in the fourth dimension of space ! '' Pobloff boomed out reproachfully , sorrowfully . Then he went meekly to his home with Luga , the harpist . The hot hush of noon was stirred into uneasy billows by the shuffling of sandals over marble porches ; all Rome sped to the spectacle in the circus . A brave day , the wind perfumed , a hard blue sky , the dark shadows cool and caressing and in the breeze a thousand-colored canopies fainted and fluttered . The hearts of the people on the benches were gay , for Diocletian , their master , had baited the trap with Christians ; living , palpitating human flesh was to be sacrificed and the gossips spoke in clear , crisp sentences as they enumerated the deadly list , dwelling upon certain names with significant emphasis . This multitude followed with languid interest the gladiatorial displays , the chariot races ; even a fierce duel between two yellow-haired barbarians evoked not a single cry .