nine o'clock
Searles rose with the sun , and after eggs , bacon , and tea , he walked to the Battery and back , before nine , the appointed hour for his first business conference with Reuben Harris . A good sleep had refreshed Colonel Harris and at breakfast he appeared in a joking mood . While he smoked , he glanced at the _ Tribune _ and again examined Searles 's letter of introduction from Messrs. Guerney & Barring . At nine o'clock promptly , Mr. Searles came and Colonel Harris exhibited to him a brief statement of the business of the Harrisville Iron & Steel Co. , extending over the last ten years , and showing the company 's annual profits . `` A very good business your company did , and you made large profits , Colonel Harris , '' said Searles . `` And am I to understand that you have made in your statement a proper allowance for depreciation of values in buildings and machinery , also for all losses and cost of insurance , and that after these deductions are made the company 's net profits annually amounted to an average of over one hundred thousand pounds , or a half million dollars ? '' `` Yes , '' replied the colonel .