noon
Can I get you anything till your luggage arrives ? '' `` No . '' The woman left him . He threw off his clothes -- flung himself on the bed -- and did not wake till noon . When his eyes unclosed -- when they rested on that calm chamber , with its air of health , and cleanliness , and comfort , it was long before he could convince himself that he was yet awake . He missed the loud , deep voice of Gawtrey -- the smoke of the dead man 's meerschaum -- the gloomy garret -- the distained walls -- the stealthy whisper of the loathed Birnie ; slowly the life led and the life gone within the last twelve hours grew upon his struggling memory . He groaned , and turned uneasily round , when the door slightly opened , and he sprung up fiercely , -- `` Who is there ? ''