12 o'clock
noon
I thought you said he was going to sell it . '' `` Yes , he is -- but he has somebody else to do it for him . Here , Mr. Herder , -- here is the advertisement ; -- see -- do n't read the first part , -- all _ that _ has nothing to do with it , -- here is the place . ` At the Merchant 's Exchange , in the city of Mannahatta , on the first day of September , 1821 , at 12 o'clock noon of that day ' -- and then comes the description of the place . It is to be sold at public auction . '' `` Auc-sion ? -- '' said the naturalist .