ten
o'clock
A certain readiness for decision , a power of dealing with an emergency , of handling a crisis , a response of pulse and brain to the call for action , stood me service now as in every difficult instant of my career . They were picked business men and shrewd financiers before me , yet I was aware that I dominated them , all and each , by some quality of force , of aggressiveness , of inflated self-confidence . The secret of my success , I had once said to the General , was that I began to get cool when I saw other people getting scared . `` It is now a quarter of ten , gentlemen , '' I said , `` and I pledge my word of honour that I will have a quarter of a million dollars in bank by ten o'clock to-morrow . '' `` For God 's sake , Ben , where is it coming from ? '' demanded Judge Kenton , an old Confederate , with the solemn face I had sometimes watched him assume in church during the singing of the hymns . As I looked at him the humour of his expression struck me , and I broke into a laugh .