noon
And as usual Raffles had his way , though Bennett Addenbrooke showed some temper when he was gone , and I myself shared his annoyance to no small extent . I could only tell him that it was in the nature of Raffles to be self-willed and secretive , but that no man of my acquaintance had half his audacity and determination ; that I for my part would trust him through and through , and let him gang his own gait every time . More I dared not say , even to remove those chill misgivings with which I knew that the lawyer went his way . That day I saw no more of Raffles , but a telegram reached me when I was dressing for dinner : `` Be in your rooms to-morrow from noon and keep rest of day clear , Raffles . '' It had been sent off from Waterloo at 6.42 . So Raffles was back in town ; at an earlier stage of our relations I should have hunted him up then and there , but now I knew better . His telegram meant that he had no desire for my society that night or the following forenoon ; that when he wanted me I should see him soon enough .