five o'clock in the morning
When they reached the office Austen shut the door , and stood with his back against it , regarding Mr. Tooting thoughtfully . At first Mr. Tooting returned the look with interest swagger -- aggression would be too emphatic , and defiance would not do . His was the air , perhaps , of Talleyrand when he said , `` There seems to be an inexplicable something in me that brings bad luck to governments that neglect me : '' the air of a man who has made a brilliant coup d'etat . All day he had worn that air -- since five o'clock in the morning , when he had sprung from his pallet . The world might now behold the stuff that was in Hamilton Tooting . Power flowed out of his right hand from an inexhaustible reservoir which he had had the sagacity to tap , and men leaped into action at his touch . He , the once , neglected , had the destiny of a State in his keeping .