Noon
Besides , who should call him up ? Not two people knew that he was in town : not even O'Hagan was aware that he had returned to his rooms that morning . He gaped again , stretching wide his arms , sat up on the edge of the bed , and heard the clock strike twelve . Noon and ... . He had an engagement at two ! He brightened at the memory and , jumping up , pressed an electric call-button on the wall . By the time he had paddled barefoot to the bath-room and turned on the cold-water tap , O'Hagan 's knock summoned him to the hall door .