noon
Will you step into the waiting-room ? ' Half-way along the main corridor was a large room , whose steel walls were masked by tapestries , where renters could examine their treasures on marble tables . It was empty when Simon went in . The patrol carefully closed the door on him , and then in a moment came back to say that Mr. Brown was not in his office , and had probably gone out to lunch , the hour being noon . ` Where did you see Mr. Hugo ? ' Simon asked , hurrying out of the room in a state of considerable agitation . ` I saw him just here , sir , ' said the patrol , turning down a short side corridor -- the grille was unfastened -- and stopping before a door numbered thirty-nine .