noon
His face became strained and white , and once he poured brandy and drank it off as though it were water . When he had finished the letter he went heavily over to the fire and dropped it in . He watched it burn , until only the flimsy carbon was left . `` If I had not gone till noon , '' he said aloud , in a nerveless voice -- `` if I had not gone till noon ... Fellowes -- did she -- or was it Byng ? '' He was so occupied with his thoughts that he was not at first conscious that some one was knocking . `` Come in , '' he called out at last . The door opened and Rudyard Byng entered .