four
o'clock
For ages the energy developed by the falls went unutilized . Smith , applying Jackson 's invention , now collects this energy , and lets or sells it . His visit to the works took more time than he had anticipated . It was four o'clock when he returned home , just in time for the daily audience which he grants to callers . One readily understands how a man situated as Smith is must be beset with requests of all kinds . Now it is an inventor needing capital ; again it is some visionary who comes to advocate a brilliant scheme which must surely yield millions of profit . A choice has to be made between these projects , rejecting the worthless , examining the questionable ones , accepting the meritorious .