twelve o'clock
If we did not , we would not know what was going on in the world outside our city . As it is , we are well posted for dogs and cats journey here from all over the world to speak at our meetings and to tell us what is happening in the countries from which they come . Now I hope all of you will favor us by speaking at our meeting to-night . It begins at twelve o'clock , and I will come and escort you to our place of meeting . We start rather late as it is easier for us to steal away from our homes unmolested at that hour than at any other . Many of our members are children 's pets and ca n't get away until they are tucked in bed as they keep such close track of them . '' Billy stood up and bowing to the line of cats on the fence and to the heads of the dogs under the fence , he began : `` Friends and countrymen , we thank you for your courtesy and kind invitation to speak before your club this evening .