noon
interrupted Rusbridge . `` I said it was everywhere . There 's no smoke without some fire . And I would n't be a bit surprised if we get cables before noon that the British War Office had sent an ultimatum . '' And very naturally a few minutes later Winston , at that time standing on the steps of the corn pit , heard from a certain broker , who had it from a friend who had just received a despatch from some one `` in the know , '' that the British Secretary of State for War had forwarded an ultimatum to the Porte , and that diplomatic relations between Turkey and England were about to be suspended . All in a moment the entire Floor seemed to be talking of nothing else , and on the outskirts of every group one could overhear the words : `` Seizure of custom house , '' `` ultimatum , '' `` Eastern question , '' `` Higgins-Pasha incident . '' It was the rumour of the day , and before very long the pit traders began to receive a multitude of despatches countermanding selling orders , and directing them not to close out trades under certain very advanced quotations .