noon
I do n't believe Jethro will care . And , '' with a shrug , `` I do n't know as another idiot , more or less , added to the rest of us , will make much difference . '' Saturday , the eventful day , or the day of the eventful evening , was fine and clear . At noon an unexpected event , the first of several , occurred ; Zacheus , bringing the mail from the post office , brought a large and heavy letter addressed to Galusha Bangs , Esq. , and stamped in the upper left-hand corner with the name of the National Institute of Washington . Galusha opened it in his room alone . It was the `` plan , '' the long-ago announced and long-expected plan in all its details . An expedition was to be fitted out , more completely and more elaborately than any yet equipped by the Institute , and was to go to the Nile basin for extended and careful research lasting two years at least .