twelve o'clock
inquired Madeleine , greatly agitated . `` He did not give me one . At first he was inclined to treat my request cavalierly . But , upon my persisting , he replied that neither place nor time served to discuss a business matter ; adding that he would be at his office on the morrow , at twelve o'clock , and , if I chose to call at that hour , the whole matter would be made known to me ; remarking , significantly , that he had no intention of keeping the transaction from the public . '' `` What could he mean ? '' '' _ That _ I can only surmise . But a few hours will make all clear . ''