noon
As she talked , giving Geneviève time to recover from her upheaval , the three investigators were plowing their way up and down byways equally depressing and insanitary . Silence ensued . Occasionally an expression of commiseration or condemnation escaped one or another of the party . Suddenly a raucous whistle tore the air , followed by another and another , declaring the armistice of the noon hour . Iron gates in the surrounding wall were opened , a stream of men and women poured out , grimed , sweat-streaked and voluble . The two women and their escort paused and watched the oncoming swarm of humanity . Around the corner , just ahead , strode a giant of a man , followed by a red-faced , unkempt , familiar figure -- the man in charge of the renting office .