six o'clock in the
afternoon, late in March
That was the name , but the millionaire did not look at it any more than he had looked at the others lower down . He knew them all by heart . He dropped his valise , took a small key from his pocket , opened the door , picked up his valise again , and , as neither hand was free , he shut the door with his heel as he passed in , and it slammed behind him , sending dismal echoes down the empty staircase . The entry was almost quite dark , for it was past six o'clock in the afternoon , late in March , and the sky was overcast ; but there was still light enough to see in the large room on the left into which Mr. Van Torp carried his things . It was a dingy place , poorly furnished , but some one had dusted the table , the mantelpiece , and the small bookcase , and the fire was laid in the grate , while a bright copper kettle stood on a movable hob . Mr. Van Torp struck a match and lighted the kindling before he took off his overcoat , and in a few minutes a cheerful blaze dispelled the gathering gloom . He went to a small old-fashioned cupboard in a corner and brought from it a chipped cup and saucer , a brown teapot , and a cheap japanned tea-caddy , all of which he set on the table ; and as soon as the fire burned brightly , he pushed the movable hob round with his foot till the kettle was over the flame of the coals .