twelve o'clock
They were hoisting a very heavy block of white marble out of the vessel . While Mr. George and Rollo were looking at the crane , a bell began to ring in a little steeple near by ; and all the men in every part of the quay and in all the sheds and warehouses immediately stopped working , put on their jackets , and began walking away in throngs towards the gates . `` Ah ! '' said Mr. George , in a tone of disappointment , `` we have got here at twelve o'clock . That was just what I wished to avoid . '' `` Yes , '' said Rollo ; `` they are all going home to dinner . '' Rollo , however , soon found that all the men were not going home to dinner , for great numbers of them began to make preparations for dining in the yard .