midday
They were seated in the shade and the coolness of a long open colonnade at Isola Nobile , while , all round them , the August morning , like a thing alive , pulsated with warmth and light , and the dancing waves of the bay lapped musically against the walls below . The Commendatore was clad in stiffly-starched white duck , and held a white yachting-cap in his hand . Susanna wore a costume of some cool gauzy tissue , pearl-grey , with white ruffles that looked as impalpable as froth . `` Listen , '' she said , `` and you shall hear of the midday quest of Commendatore Fregi . I will tell you step by step what steps you are to take . My cousin is staying with the Ponte brothers at their villa . Well , -- first step of all , -- you are to call upon him . ''