two
o'clock
But there was nothing on it but cut bread , casters , and condiments , for these men always preferred hot luncheon in cold weather , and it was yet to be dished up . The Iron King was not in a humor to wait . He hurried the servants . And at length when the dishes , which had been punctually prepared for two o'clock , were placed on the table at twenty minutes past three , everything was overdone , dried up , and indigestible . It was the Iron King 's own fault for not coming to the table when the meal was first prepared to order . But he would not admit that into consideration . He ordered the waiter to take everything away and throw it out of doors , declared that he would have a restaurant started on the opposite side of the street where a man could get a decent meal , and rose from the table in a rage .