the hour of three
He went out with his bundle of notes through the crowd , telling them that the bank could not pay him . This intelligence made the excitement still greater . There was a fierce rush to the counter . The clerks worked hard , and paid out what they could in spite of the hints and even the threats of Potts , till at length the bank clock struck the hour of three . It had been put forward twenty minutes , and there was a great riot among the people on that account , but they could not do any thing . The bank was closed for the day , and they had to depart . Both Potts and Clark now waited eagerly for the return of John .