about noon
When Greta asked what she had lost she was heard to mutter : `` Mr. -- Needlecase . '' Christian , with big circles round her eyes , sat silent at her little table . She had had no sleep . Herr Paul coming into the room about noon gave her a furtive look and went out again ; after this he went to his bedroom , took off all his clothes , flung them passionately one by one into a footbath , and got into bed . `` I might be a criminal ! '' he muttered to himself , while the buttons of his garments rattled on the bath . `` Am I her father ?