noon
There was nothing to do now but wait , as the detectives had advised . I looked at a large antique grandfather 's clock which was standing nearby . It now lacked scarcely a minute of twelve . Slowly the hands of the clock came nearer together at noon . We all gathered about the show case with its glittering hoard of wealth , forming a circle at a respectful distance . Martin pointed nervously at the clock . In deep-lunged tones the clock played the chords written , I believe , by Handel .