noon
I heard a creaking : the top of the chamber was turning slowly round . He ceased pulling , looked at his watch , and began to pull again . `` We arrive almost to the moment ! '' he said ; `` it is on the very stroke of noon ! '' The top went creaking and revolving for a minute or so . Then he pulled two other chains , now this , now that , and returned to the first . A moment more and the chamber grew much clearer : a patch of sunlight had fallen upon a mirror on the wall opposite that against which the other leaned , and on the dust I saw the path of the reflected rays to the mirror on the ground .