one minute to ten
It always seemed to Pete that he was a broker exactly as a beaver is a dam-builder , because nature had adapted him to that task . But outside of this one instinctive capacity he had no sense whatsoever . He rarely appeared in the office . He was met at the Broad Street entrance of the exchange at one minute to ten by a boy with the morning 's orders , and sometimes he came in for a few minutes after the closing ; but usually by three-fifteen he had disappeared from financial circles , and was understood to be relaxing in the higher social spheres to which he belonged . So when Pete , entering Mr. Benson 's private office , saw Honaton leaning against the window-frame , with his hat-brim held against his thigh exactly like a fashion-plate , he knew that something of importance must be pending . Benson , the senior member , was a very different person . He looked like a fat , white , pugnacious cat .