2:45
This letter I registered at Lexington and at night , about 11 o'clock , when I had followed it into the Cincinnati post-office , Herrick and Salmon were in the money-order division on a step-ladder , peering through a glass transom into the registry division . As soon as possible I joined them , and patiently we waited for Quinsey to turn a trick . It was exactly two A. M. when he commenced on the Chicago bill . He reached the letter from Lexington at precisely 2:45 . It was fat and tempting . Herrick was on the top of the ladder at that instant , and he sent a peculiar thrill of surprise through me when he turned and whispered : `` Hush , hush , he has picked it up . '' `` Now he 's feeling of it . ''