twelve o'clock
He kept silent ; and she , becoming anxious again , asked : `` Do you suppose ... that my husband ... ? '' He took her hand and , while examining the plain gold ring , said : `` The puzzle lies here . Your husband , I do n't know how , knows of the substitution of one ring for the other . His mother will be here at twelve o'clock . In the presence of witnesses , he will compel you to take off your ring ; and , in this way , he will obtain the approval of his mother and , at the same time , will be able to obtain his divorce , because he will have the proof for which he was seeking . '' `` I am lost ! '' she moaned .