nine in the morning
All I knew of him was that he had succeeded his father in manufacturing unshrinkable flannels . Of course , the reader understands that is not the article of commerce he manufactures ; but it is near enough , and it suggests the line of business to which he gives his life 's blood . It is not similar to my own line of work , and in consequence , when he wrote me , on the unshrinkable flannels official writing-paper , that he wished to see me in reference to a matter of business of `` mutual benefit , '' I was considerably puzzled . A few days later , at nine in the morning , an hour of his own choosing , he came to my rooms in New York City . Except that he had grown a beard , he was as I remembered him , thin and tall , but with no chest , and stooping shoulders . He wore eye-glasses , and as of old through these he regarded you disapprovingly and warily as though he suspected you might try to borrow money , or even joke with him . As with Edgar I had never felt any temptation to do either , this was irritating .