three o'clock
she exclaimed , impulsively , and Jimmy 's heart bumped at the knowledge that she , too , was disappointed . `` But , '' he suggested , hopefully , `` if I called for you at the studio at about six o'clock could n't we dine together ? '' And when she accepted his invitation with unconcealed enthusiasm , his spirits again soared and he forgot even the baleful presence of Falkner for a time , and when he did remember him , discovered that his `` kill joy '' had gone . Promptly at three o'clock he breezed into his firm 's offices with all habitual cheeriness , exchanged a swift run of badinage with those he met , and was ushered into the manager 's office . Falkner did not meet him with the customary smile of welcome . `` Well , '' he said , `` you seem to have raised a devil of a row out West , and if you can offer any explanation at all for such conduct I 'm prepared to listen to it before we go any further . If you think that 's the kind of advertising a reputable firm wants you 're about as poor a guesser as ever traveled on a mileage book . ''