noon
`` My good sir , _ where _ did you say ? Patmos ? Now , if anyone had come to me a week ago and told me -- Martha , ring for Scipio , please , and tell him to fetch me my hat . '' Although the Major and the Vicar had as good as made solemn agreement to impart their discovery to no one but Mr. Hansombody ; and , although Miss Marty admittedly -LRB- and because , as she explained , no one had forbidden her -RRB- imparted it to Scipio and again to Cai Tamblyn in the course of the morning ; yet , knowing Troy , I hesitate to blame her that before noon the whole town was discussing the Millennium , notice of which -LRB- it appeared -RRB- had come down to the Mayor by a private advice and in Government cipher . `` But what _ is _ a Millennium ? '' asked someone of Gunner Sobey -LRB- our readiest man -RRB- . `` It means a thousand years , '' answered Gunner Sobey ; `` and then , if you 're lucky , you gets a pension accordin ' . ''