twelve o'clock
`` Sir ! '' `` He declares that he has proof of this ; and he came to me the day before yesterday , requesting me to see you , and offer to give up this forged document , under certain conditions . Up to this point all was straightforward , but what follows is not so , and I only speak to you now according to my instructions . He requires one hundred thousand francs -LRB- 4,000 _ l. _ -RRB- down this very day , or else to-morrow , at twelve o'clock at noon , the forged bill will be handed over to the king 's attorney-general . '' `` This is infamous , sir ! '' `` It is more , -- it is absurd . You are a ruined man ; you were all but arrested for the sum which you have just paid me , and which you have scraped up I can not tell from where ; and this I have told to the holder of the bill , who replied , that a certain great and very rich lady would not allow you to remain in this embarrassment . ''