noon
But though a steady drinker , and occasionally an unsteady one , Marchmont had his value . He was an expert in his specialty . He had a wide acquaintance , and he seldom became unprofessionally drunk in working hours . To offset the unwonted strain of rising before noon , however , he had fortified himself for this occasion by several cocktails which were manifest in his beaming smile and his expansive flourish in welcoming Mr. Surtaine to the goodly fellowship of the pen . `` Very good , all that about the facts behind the news , '' he said genially . `` Very instructive and -- and illuminating . But what I wanta ask you is this : We fellows who have to _ write _ the facts behind the news ; where do we get off ? ''