noon
But in every case their appeals remained unheeded . Whatever it was they wanted , they had to go unsatisfied away . Lying there , torpid , with nothing to do but listen , I was , possibly , struck by very little , but it did occur to me that one among the callers was more persistent than the rest . The distant clock had just struck noon when I heard the gate open , and someone approached the front door . Since nothing but silence followed , I supposed that the occupant of the place had returned , and had chosen to do so as silently as he had gone . Presently , however , there came from the doorstep a slight but peculiar call , as if a rat was squeaking . It was repeated three times , and then there was the sound of footsteps quietly retreating , and the gate re-closing .