noon
Hazeltine hesitated , seemed about to speak , and then silently led the way to the hall . `` I 'll show you the laboratory later on , '' he said . `` We 'll go up to the testing room now . '' Then he added , apparently as much to himself as to his visitor , `` I told those fellows that I would n't be back until noon . '' There was a door at the top of the stairs . Ralph opened this quietly . As they passed through , Captain Eri noticed that Peters had followed them into the hall and stood there , looking up .