about noon
`` The only thing to do is to hold on tight , have a drink , and trust in Providence . We 'll go and have the drink . '' They adjourned to a convenient bar . It was about noon , and the place was fairly full . Here they found Holmes in the middle of a crowd , also Rankin and Wheeler . The consumption of `` John Walker '' was proceeding at a brisk rate . `` Hallo , Stanninghame , how are you ? ''