noon
He could n't be sure of what she might do or say , but he could be certain her curiosity and enthusiasm would stir up something . If Rick had been enough of a prophet to see all the events his pretty sister 's helpfulness at the reception would get him into , he would have handcuffed her to the Christmas tree before ever allowing her off Spindrift Island . The Egyptian Cat The reception for Dr. Hayret Ahmed was at the home of an Egyptian importer named Mohammed Bartouki . Barby , the boys , and Winston rang the bell of a brownstone house on New York 's Upper East Side promptly at noon . Winston had checked with his host by phone , and his request that he be allowed to bring his young associates to meet Bartouki had been met with enthusiastic pleasure . Mohammed Bartouki had assured the scientist that he would look forward to meeting the young people of Dr. Hartson Brant 's household . The door was opened by a figure right out of _ The Arabian Nights _ , or so it seemed to the young people .