noon
At present we 're snuffin ' the wind and pickin ' up no scent . '' `` You 're right , Buck , we 'll get the baggage together at once . '' Again Jack rushed across Italy , France , and the Channel , never pausing for one instant on the way . It was a little before noon on a Thursday morning when he saw London again , and , at the terminus , he parted with Buck . The latter went with the baggage to Lincoln 's Inn to report to Mr. Buxton , while Jack , too anxious to lose another moment , jumped into a cab and drove straight to the offices of Messrs Lane & Baumann in Old Broad Street . He sent his name in , and was shown at once into a large room where Mr. Lane , the senior partner , sat at his desk . `` Ah , Mr. Haydon , '' said he , `` you have , I hope , come to give us some news about your father . ''