noon
He had really wronged his son this time . But that question of the money still remained , the boy had not been open and honest in that . It seemed to the father that he could not quite rely on his son any more now . It was hardly noon when Wolfgang left the office again . He had arranged to meet a couple of acquaintances in the Imperial Café not far from the Linden ; he would have to have something to eat , and whether he had his lunch there or somewhere else was of no consequence ; a sandwich , which was all his father took with him from home , was not sufficient for him after swimming and riding . Then he showed himself again at the office for an hour in the afternoon , but in his tennis clothes this time , in white shoes , a racket in his hand . When Wolfgang left the West End tennis-ground that afternoon , hot and red -- the games had been long and obstinate -- and went across to the Zoological Gardens ' Station , he hesitated as he stood at the entrance to it .