five o'clock
Without waiting for a reply he pointed to a rope and a slab of limestone on the pavement below , and waved his hand unmistakably toward the Mississippi . Miss Russell was of the opinion that Mr. Whipple had once been crossed in love . But we are to speak more particularly of a put-up job , although Stephen did not know this at the time . Towards five o'clock of a certain afternoon in August of that year , 1858 , Mr. Whipple emerged from his den . Instead of turning to the right , he strode straight to Stephen 's table . His communications were always a trifle startling . This was no exception .