five o'clock
`` I may as well go down to dinner , '' he thought . His next proceeding was to telephone to his chambers instructing his man to meet him at Waterloo with his suit-case . Then he wrote a telegram to Mrs. Smith announcing that he would dine with her that evening . Thereupon he was ready to tackle the business problems which would absorb his attention until five o'clock . On arriving at Cosham Park he was taken to the study , where Kate Smith was awaiting him . `` You have heard from Charley ? '' she said anxiously , after shaking hands .