six
o'clock
His very intellect -LRB- the most unrestful part of him -RRB- was at rest ; all his weary being merged in a confused voluptuous sensation , a beatific state in which smoking became a higher kind of thinking , and thought betrayed an increasing tendency to end in smoke . The room was double-walled with book-shelves , and but for the far away underground humming of a happy maidservant the house was soundless . He rejoiced to think that there was not a soul in it above stairs to disturb his deep tranquility . At six o'clock he would have to take his legs off that chair , and get into a frock-coat ; once in the frock-coat he would become another man , all patience and politeness . After six there would be no pipe and no peace for him , but the knocking and ringing at his front door would go on incessantly till seven-thirty . There was flattery in every knock , for it meant that Dr. Cautley was growing eminent , and that at the ridiculously early age of nine-and-twenty . There was a sharp ring now .