noon
And so when Mr. Ludlow got in all alone one morning , and the occasion seemed to demand recognition of some sort , Freckles had chirped : `` Good-morning ! '' But the man , possibly deep in something else , simply knit together his brows and gave no sign of having heard . After that , Henry Ludlow , lobbyist , and Freckles McGrath , elevator boy , were enemies . A little before noon , one day near the end of the session , a member of the Senate and a member of the House rode down together in the elevator . `` There 's no use waiting any longer , '' the Senator was saying as they got in . `` We 're as strong now as we 're going to be . It 's a matter of Stacy 's vote , and that 's a matter of who sees him last . ''