noon
What more could mortal have asked ? Mr. Heatherbloom gazed at an empty window where he had last seen her -LRB- had they been there only twenty-four hours ? -RRB- , then he took a bit of painting on ivory from his pocket and wrapped the message around it . Before noon he had engaged cheap but neat lodgings at the home of an old negro woman . Several days passed . After waiting in vain for him to call at the governor 's mansion , Betty Dalrymple drove herself to the hotel ; here she learned that he had gone without leaving an address ; a message from Sir Charles for Mr. Heatherbloom , formally offering to put the latter up at government house , had not been delivered . Mr. Heatherbloom had failed to call for his mail .