noon
`` I know it was , and it was kept too . '' Elijah turned to his desk and became absorbed in his work . Whether or not Helen grasped the fact that her indirect question of Elijah remained unanswered , she pursued it no farther . Toward noon , Elijah went to the safe which stood in the back of the office . He opened the door , took from his pocket a bunch of keys and unlocked his private box . Helen 's back was towards him . Without taking his eyes from her , he drew from his pocket a small package and slipped it beneath a pile of papers .