five o'clock
Nick divined that Mr. Carteret 's desire for further explanations was really strong and had been capable of sustaining him through a bad morning , capable even of helping him -- it would have been a secret and wonderful momentary conquest of weakness -- to pass it off for a good one . He wished he might make a sketch of him , from the life , as he had seen him after breakfast ; he had a conviction he could make a strong one , which would be a precious memento . But he shrank from proposing this -- the dear man might think it unparliamentary . The doctor had called while Nick was out , and he came again at five o'clock without that inmate 's seeing him . The latter was busy in his room at that hour : he wrote a short letter which took him a long time . But apparently there had been no veto on a resumption of talk , for at half-past seven his friend sent for him . The nurse at the door said , `` Only a moment , I hope , sir ? ''