noon
We began to go down a street at a good clip . And I was the happiest fellow in the world , since we had n't stopped to buy any food . I really thought my new master was one of those people who do all their shopping at once , and that our meal would be there , ready and waiting for us , just the way I wanted -- and , in fact , the way I needed . At that minute the clock struck one -- an hour past noon -- and we came to a house where my master stopped , and so did I. And pulling his cape to the left , he took a key out of his sleeve and opened the door , and we both went into the house . The entrance was dark and gloomy : it looked like it would make anyone who went in afraid . But inside there was a little patio and some fairly nice rooms . Once we were in , he took off his cape : he asked me if my hands were clean , and then we shook it out and folded it .