a quarter past eleven
Mr. Wharton saw at the first glance that the services of Ferdinand Lopez were no longer in request by the San Juan Mining Company ; but he sat down and waited . Now that he was there , however painful the interview would be , he would go through it . At ten minutes past eleven he made up his mind that he would wait till the half-hour , -- and then go , with the fixed resolution that he would never willingly spend another shilling on behalf of that wretched man . But at a quarter past eleven the wretched man came , -- swaggering into the office , though it had not , hitherto , been his custom to swagger . But misfortune masters all but the great men , and upsets the best-learned lesson of even a long life . `` I hope I have not kept you waiting , Mr. Wharton . Well , Hartlepod , how are you to-day ?