noon
Even though he should be present in the kitchen he would not be likely to take notice of any extra preparations . In the meantime Harry had made a bell out of a flat sheet of steel . It was really a gong . When the noon hour arrived and the table had been set ready for the symbolic cake pyramid of little cakes , George ordered the gong to sound , and Harry made such a frightful din with the unexpected noise , that Baby was terribly frightened , and scampered to the loft , his usual place of retreat when reproved or unduly excited . The Professor was out of the laboratory like a shot , and hurried over to the house . At the same time George returned . `` Who has taken my cakes ? ''