noon
So he made his way to the hotel on the corner , facing the station , untroubled by what the morrow might bring forth , and registered his name in the large book which the clerk swung around in front of him , and quietly asked for a room with a bath . The clerk bit through the toothpick he had in his mouth , so great was his surprise , but he answered steadily : `` All rooms with bath are taken -- only rooms with bed left . '' `` Room with bed , then , '' said Peter , and he was given the key of No. 17 , and pointed to the black and red carpeted stairway . It was a morning of ominous calm , with an hour of bright sun , gradually softening into a white shadow , as a fleecy cloud of fairy whiteness rolled over the sun 's face , giving a light on the earth like the garish light in a tent at high noon , a light of blinding whiteness that hurts the eyes , although the sun is hidden . It was as innocent a looking morning as any one would wish to see , still , warm , bright , with a heavy brooding air which deadens sound and makes sleighs draw hard and horses come out in foam . James Crocks , of the Horse Repository , sniffed the air apprehensively , bit a semi-circle out of a plug of tobacco , and gave orders that no horse was to leave the barn that day , for `` he might be mistaken , and he might not , '' but he thought `` we were in for it . '' Other people seemed to think the same , for no teams could be seen on any of the roads leading to the village .