noon
He was breathing still , very faintly , and apparently without pain . ` There is a possibility still , ' said Rex in a low voice . The physician glanced at him , and suppressed a professional shrug of the shoulders . ` We shall see what happens at noon , ' he answered , but the tone of his voice was sceptical . To tell the truth he believed that there was no longer any hope whatever , and so far as any such chance was concerned he would almost have risked going home at once . Nevertheless he determined to stay to the very last , partly because his reputation was at stake , partly out of curiosity to watch Rex at the supreme moment . He suspected that the latter was in some way profoundly interested in the question of Greif 's life , though he found it quite impossible to make sure whether his anxiety proceeded from affection or from some more selfish motive .