three o’clock
It had happened many a day since Jenkins 's absence , that Roland had never stirred from the office , except for his dinner . He must be there in good time in the morning -- at the frightfully early hour of nine -- and he often was not released until six . When he went to dinner at one , Mr. Galloway would say , `` You must be back in half an hour , Yorke ; I may have to go out . '' Once or twice he had not gone to dinner until two or three o'clock , and then he was half dead with hunger . All this chafed poor Roland nearly beyond endurance . Another cause was rendering Roland 's life not the most peaceful one . He was beginning to be seriously dunned for money .