noon
It is a good many years ago , but there are some things that none of us ever forget . Blinded by such fascinations it is not at all astonishing that long before Oliver regained his senses the Colonel had left the house for the day . That distinguished gentleman would , no doubt , have waited the young prince 's pleasure in his library had he known of his errand . But since the Colonel had unfortunately taken himself off , there was nothing , of course , for our Oliver to do but to remain where he was until noon -- this was Sue 's way out of the difficulty -- and then to catch the Colonel at the bank where he could always be found between twelve and one o'clock , or where Mr. Stiger , the cashier , could lay his hands on him if he was anywhere in the neighborhood , a suggestion of Sue 's which at once relieved Oliver from further anxiety , Mr. Stiger being one of his oldest and dearest friends . By the time , however , that Oliver had reached the bank the Colonel had left for the club , where he would have been too happy , no doubt -- being the most courteous of colonels , etc. , etc. -- `` if his dear young friend had only sent him word , '' etc. . All this our breathless young Mercury -- Oliver never walked when he could run -- learned some hours later from old Mr. Stiger , the cashier , who punched him in the ribs at the end of every sentence in which he conveyed the disappointing information , calling him `` Creeps , '' at short intervals , and roaring with laughter at the boy 's account of the causes leading up to his missing the Colonel . `` Gone to the club , Creeps , do n't I tell you -LRB- -- punch in the ribs -- -RRB- ; gone to get a little sip of Madeira and a little bit of woodcock -LRB- -- punch over the heart -- -RRB- , and a little -- oh , I tell you , you young dog -- '' -LRB- this punch straight on the breast-bone -RRB- -- `` you ought to be a bank director -- you hear !