midday
`` Come inside , '' I cried as heartily as my sinking heart would permit . After a short but severe scuffle with his dog at the outer door , Fyne entered . I treated him without ceremony and only waved my hand towards a chair . Even before he sat down he gasped out : `` We 've heard -- midday post . '' Gasped out ! The grave , immovable Fyne of the Civil Service , gasped ! This was enough , you 'll admit , to cause me to put my feet to the ground swiftly .