noon
`` Be on your guard , friend Gryphus ; be on your guard as long as you please ; my conspiracy , as well as my person , is entirely at your service . '' `` We 'll see that at noon . '' Saying this , Gryphus went out . `` At noon ? '' repeated Cornelius ; `` what does that mean ? Well , let us wait until the clock strikes twelve , and we shall see . '' It was very easy for Cornelius to wait for twelve at midday , as he was already waiting for nine at night .