twelve o'clock
The laboratory had been built at a later date than the main body of the school , and was reached by a flight of steps from the playground . The room below it was used for coats and hats and other impedimenta the boys might bring with them , each boy having his own peg and place on the shelf for bag or lunch basket . They passed through this room on their way to the laboratory , and so it would be easy for Taylor to take down his coat , and carry it up with him when he went for his practical chemistry lesson , and he did this without any notice being aroused among the other boys . At twelve o'clock , when school was over , the science master went to the playground to look for Howard , who was eating his sandwiches as he walked up and down . ` You wo n't be long before you go up to the laboratory , I suppose , Howard ? ' he said , when he saw the lad . ` No , sir , I 'm going in a minute , ' said the boy .