noon
That morning he had waited patiently for the coming of Mademoiselle St. Clair . He had made a last inspection of the rooms he had hired , satisfying himself that there was nothing left undone which it was in his power to do for her . Then he had gone to his own room and tried to read during the interval of waiting . His patience was strained to the limit when , at noon , Mercier and Dubois arrived alone . He had expected them long before . The delay had almost prepared him to hear that his plans had been frustrated , yet the two men who had entered , afraid of his anger , were surprised at the calmness with which he listened to their story . It was not all the truth .