noon
`` Good-by ! '' -- and he was gone . If Loring professed but slight interest in the flamboyant plans for the new hotel , there were others who were painfully absorbed in the news of the project . Gresham , for one , read the account with contracted brows at his late breakfast ; and at noon , inspired by a virtuous sense of duty , he sauntered over to Courtney 's club . `` I see you 're involved in another hotel proposition , '' he ventured . `` I hope involved is not the word , '' returned Courtney with rather a wry smile . `` Is your company fully organized ? ''