Twelve o'clock
-- Why , fellows ! -- Why , there 's plenty of men in the office who have done more than I have to -- '' Then he sat down , the ring fast in his hand . When the applause had subside -- the young fellow 's modesty had caused a fresh outburst -- Morris again rose in his chair and once more the room grew still . `` Twelve o'clock , gentlemen , '' he said . `` Mr. Downey , you are always our stand-by in starting the old hymn . '' The diners -- host and guests alike -- rose to their feet as one man . Then to Peter 's and my own intense surprise that most impressive of all chants , the Doxology in long metre , surged out , gaining in volume and strength as its strains were caught up by the different voices .