six o'clock
Daylight broadened over the city . The sun rose . Not to be outdone , so did Mr. Iff -- moving quietly round the room , swearing beneath his breath as his conscience dictated , gradually accumulating more and more of the articles of clothing which he had so disdainfully discarded some hours earlier . The telephone interrupted him somewhat after six o'clock . He answered it , assuming Staff 's identity for the moment . When the conversation had closed , he sat in reverie for some minutes , then consulted the telephone book and called two numbers in quick succession . Immediately thereafter he tiptoed into the bedroom , assured himself that Staff was fast asleep and proceeded calmly to rifle that gentleman 's pockets , carefully placing what he found in an orderly array upon the bureau .