noon
No one else could , so it is not worth while attempting to describe it . I admit I lay awake most of the night trying to determine how to meet the Spencer woman 's attack . And I had reached no satisfactory decision when I went down to breakfast . The formal ceremony of my taking over the Governorship of Dornlitz was fixed for noon . I would be occupied the remainder of the afternoon at headquarters ; and then , in the evening , I was to give a dinner to the ranking military officers in the Capital . I wanted to get some plan of action arranged at once and , feeling the need of clear-headed counsel , I dispatched Bernheim to the American Embassy with a request that Courtney join me immediately . I had just finished my meal when he was announced , and we repaired to my private cabinet .