midnight
To cap misfortune , the postman , in his afternoon round , brought him five returned manuscripts . Then it was that Martin wore his overcoat down into Oakland , and came back without it , but with five dollars tinkling in his pocket . He paid a dollar each on account to the four tradesmen , and in his kitchen fried steak and onions , made coffee , and stewed a large pot of prunes . And having dined , he sat down at his table-desk and completed before midnight an essay which he entitled `` The Dignity of Usury . '' Having typed it out , he flung it under the table , for there had been nothing left from the five dollars with which to buy stamps . Later on he pawned his watch , and still later his wheel , reducing the amount available for food by putting stamps on all his manuscripts and sending them out . He was disappointed with his hack-work .