noon
But it is all very vague and intangible . '' Long we talked that last morning in his laboratory ; and when I turned to go , he put his unseen hand in mine with nervous grip , and said , `` Now I shall conquer the world ! '' And I could not dare to tell him of Paul Tichlorne 's equal success . At home I found a note from Paul , asking me to come up immediately , and it was high noon when I came spinning up the driveway on my wheel . Paul called me from the tennis court , and I dismounted and went over . But the court was empty . As I stood there , gaping open-mouthed , a tennis ball struck me on the arm , and as I turned about , another whizzed past my ear .