noon
Come on ; let 's go look at the clock . '' Beppina knew that Carlotta would be angry if they lingered , but still she crossed herself and murmured a hurried `` Our Father '' for the poor prisoners , on the chance of its helping them , before she ran back to Beppo and Giovanni . She found them standing before the great clock-tower which rose above a high gateway over the street . It was almost noon , and a crowd had gathered to see the clock strike the hour . There was always a group waiting there on the hour , for this was no ordinary clock . The children watched with breathless interest as two bronze giants on the platform high above their heads suddenly lifted their arms and struck a huge bell twelve times , then relapsed into bronze statues again . Giovanni told the Twins that at Christmas-time the Three Wise Men came out of the clock and bowed before the Madonna and Child .