noon
The enemy at least would have a fine time . '' `` Because , '' said the chief , `` Aintree has n't an enemy in the world -- except Aintree . '' The next morning , as he had promised , Haldane called upon his friend . When he arrived at Las Palmas , although the morning was well advanced toward noon , he found Aintree still under his mosquito bars and awake only to command a drink . The situation furnished Haldane with his text . He expressed his opinion of any individual , friend or no friend , officer or civilian , who on the Zone , where all men begin work at sunrise , could be found at noon still in his pajamas and preparing to face the duties of the day on an absinth cocktail . He said further that since he had arrived on the isthmus he had heard only of Aintree 's misconduct , that soon the War Department would hear of it , that Aintree would lose his commission , would break the backbone of a splendid career .