four o'clock in the afternoon
`` We will get back to headquarters , '' he said shortly , and they arrived two hours later . Sanders sat in the little telegraph office , and the Morse sounder rattled and clacked for half an hour . Other sounders were at work elsewhere , delicate needles vacillated in cable offices , and an Under-Secretary was brought from the House of Commons to the bureau of the Prime Minister to answer a question . At four o'clock in the afternoon came the message Sanders expected : `` London says permit for Corklan forged . Arrest . Take extremest steps . Deal drastically , ruthlessly .