five o'clock in the
afternoon
Cautiously , and in well-guarded phrase , Blount stated his case . By a series of correlated incidents which could be explained later , documentary evidence of a great conspiracy had fallen into his hands ; would the judge step aside so far as to accord him a Sunday interview , taking his word for it that the emergency was most urgent , and that the time was too short to admit of the ordinary methods of procedure ? The judge 's answer was satisfactory , though Blount fancied it was rather reluctantly given . A family engagement -- an accepted luncheon invitation -- would intervene ; but between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the chief justice would be in his chambers in the Capitol building , and would be glad to have the son of his old friend the senator come at that hour . With time on his hands , Blount squared himself at his desk and began to set his railroad house in order . Now that the dreadful step was practically taken , he was free to wind up the business of his office , leaving things in order for his successor . Once he had thought that he could not stay in the capital or in the West after the cataclysm .