about six o'clock
`` Mr. Mullins said I wasted time in going his errands . It was n't true , but it was only an excuse to get rid of me . He took his cousin Felix in my place . '' The two friends went to dinner about six o'clock . At seven they came downstairs and sat in the lobby on a sofa near the door . Through the portal there was a constant ingress and egress of men -- a motley crowd -- business men , politicians , professionals and men perhaps of shady character , for a great hotel can not discriminate , and hundreds pass in and out who are not guests and have no connection with the house . `` It is a wonderful place , Chester , '' said Mr. Perkins .