noon
At any rate , I remember now , in the seconds that followed , flash came fast after flash . There was a sudden illumination . The room was lighter than day . It grew alternately bright as noon and then dark as pitch again by contrast . And by the light of the flashes , I saw you , half-dazed with the chloroform , standing helpless there . `` I rushed up and caught the man 's arm . He was never my father !